On November 20th, in the small hours of the morning, there was an arson charge at 144 12th St. in Brandon.

The building that caught fire was home to two businesses, ABC Taxi and a non-profit called Turning Leaf, as well as a few tenants, including several international students. A 33-year old man broke into the building and started the fire, and someone inside called the police to report the incident. The building was completely destroyed.

The police played a part in assisting in the safe evacuation of the building’s occupants. By effectively managing the incident, the Brandon Emergency Services did not fall short of expectations. The perpetrator was quickly arrested.

The extent of the fire was astounding, and among the losses were valuable resident records and possessions, among other things. Ese Auroror, a Nigerian international student, who was a resident of the building stated, “There are quite a number of things that are sentimental, some of them from my late father, some of them from my wife who’s not here with me in Brandon” (Brandon Sun).

The victims of this fire would require a great deal of care at this time, especially in terms of emotional and mental support. Those who are students will have upcoming final examinations. It could be difficult for them to concentrate on their studies following such an event. I sincerely hope that community members will be able to assist them, because they will require costly necessities like food, clothing, and housing given that all they had was gone in an instant. With the support of family and friends, these students can get their lives back on track. I would encourage everyone in the BU community to make an effort to get in touch with them and let them know that they are not alone through gifts, service or words.