After the Fire: Resident Says, "Change Is Not a Bad Thing."

Meet Scott. He’s lived on the fifth floor of the YMCA Men’s Residence at the Downtown Hamilton Family YMCA for eight years.

He was heading to the washroom in the early afternoon on Monday, July 22 when he saw a small amount of smoke.

“It didn’t concern me too much...the alarm had gone off but sometimes there’s a small amount of smoke because of a toaster oven, so I wasn’t too concerned,” he says.  

Within five minutes, Scott says the smoke was so thick he couldn’t see his hand in front of his face.  

What Scott didn’t know is that two floors below, a fire was raging.

Scott called 911 and was told emergency services were already on their way.

“They said to stay by the window and put a towel down at the bottom of the door, so I did all that and then a fireman came and got me and brought me down through the elevator,” he says.

“I didn’t realize it was as bad as it was until I got out and saw ladders at windows and all these fire trucks and ambulances. I am very grateful I got out,” says Scott.

The fire was put out and the YMCA quickly engaged the help of the Red Cross and other community partners.  

Within four-or-five hours, Scott says temporary spaces were set-up in the Hamilton Downtown Family YMCA with cots, pillows, and blankets.

Scott says they were given food, water, and clean clothing—something he was especially grateful for since all the clothes he had reeked like smoke.

He says they were also able to take a nice shower.

“They prioritized things, and one at a time things got done, so I can’t really say it has been that stressful,” he says.

And while rooming in a gymnasium with 50 other men isn’t a situation Scott ever thought he would be in, he’s grateful nothing worse happened and says it’s been a lesson in community.

“I found that in eight years on the fifth floor I didn’t really have much to do with anybody other than people on the fifth floor. [Now,] I have met so many wonderful people,” he says.

“It has really opened my eyes to how change is not a bad thing sometimes. When this is all over and I am back in my room, I have met people who I will be able to talk to and be friendly with,” says Scott.

A sense of community isn’t the only positive Scott will be taking away from this fire.

“I’ve been trying to quit smoking for a long time, because my breath isn’t all that great and I’m 65 and if I don’t it's going to kill me,” he says.

“I haven’t smoked since [the fire], that was it for me.”

As restoration and cleaning efforts continue on the fourth and fifth floors, it’ll be a few weeks until Scott can get back into his room. He’s looking forward to that moment, but until then, he says he’s feels lucky to have the support of Y staff.

“Anything you want, they do for you. There’s a saying, bend over backwards, well that’s exactly what the staff at the Y do. They make everyone feel welcome, they treat everybody as a valued member of society.”

#ShineOn 

Stay up to date as the YMCA Hamilton | Burlington | Brantford begins comprehensive restoration efforts on the Downtown Family YMCA with community support.

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