It’s going to be a long road of recovery for a family who lost their home in a devastating fatal house fire in Lower Sackville, according to a close friend, Alyssa Porter.

She tells our newsroom, getting through it so far has been very hard, but they have a good network of people who are essentially their backbone.

“How can you be doing in this type of situation? It’s been tough. It’s been really tough. They have a ton of family and friends who have been supporting them through everything, and I think that’s their only saving grace at this point is that we have quite the village behind them.”

Young girl passed away

The fire broke out at the home on Riverside Drive around 3 a.m., Saturday.

According to Halifax Fire it was fast moving and, in the end, claimed the life of six-year-old Chloe who was having a sleepover at her cousin’s house.

Chloe, a young girl who died in a Lower Sackville house fire Photo: GoFundMe organized by Megan Normore

There were six of them in the home.

Two other children ages, five and nine as well as a 40-year-old man, who was in critical condition, were sent to hospital.

A 37-year-old woman and two-year-old girl escaped uninjured.

Community support

Porter tells us the support from the community has been incredible.

“The family did not have insurance on the home, so they’ve lost everything including their pets. We are rallying as much as we possibly can. We’ve had funeral homes reach out to us to let us know they’re going to cover costs and stuff like that.”

She says some have even dropped off gift cards off at her house, so they have something to eat.

“I knew we had a great community, but I didn’t realize how much people would pull together so quickly for them.”

Candlelight vigil and bears

Nova Scotians from all over gathered on Riverside Drive, Sunday evening, to show support to the victims.

There were candles with dozens and dozens of stuffed animals that were laid on the lawn.

Porter says it was magical.

“I was completely shocked with the outpouring of love. There were people from Musquodoboit there…it wasn’t just locals. They were from near and far and it was just absolutely beautiful.”

In addition to this, residents of Lower Sackville are laying stuffed animals on their porches as part of the #bearsforprayers initiative to show support.

Stuffed animals placed on the porch of a Lower Sackville resident in support of the fire victims Photo: Sarah Andrews

Fundraisers bringing in thousands

Thousands of dollars have already been raised for the victims of this awful tragedy, with two separate fundraisers.

A family friend of Chloe’s parents created a GoFundMe to help with funeral costs and has already raised around $3,000.

The account was put on hold for verification but is open again and is rising quickly.

Porter organized the second GoFundMe to help the family who lost their home, rebuild their lives, that has raised over $40,000.

She says, at this point, they need “all the support they can get.”