Neighbours start fundraising campaign after fire at well-known Kingston home

Many of those in the city of Kingston are aware of the house fire that broke out at a home on Davis Drive earlier this week, but many Kingstonians were well aware of the address before that.

The home, situated on the corner of Davis Drive and Bexley Gate, is a favourite of those who enjoy annual holiday light and decoration displays at Christmastime. Each year, the house and its corner lot are adorned with all things Christmas, making it a must-see location on evening family drives to take in the lights in one of the darkest months of the year.

But for the family that calls the house ‘home,’ one of their darker moments came in April this year. On Wednesday, Apr. 19, 2023, firefighters and paramedics responded to reports of a fully active fire at the address — one that sent dark plumes of smoke through the west end of the city. Kingston Fire and Rescue crews were on scene for several hours battling the flames, and two citizens were credited for braving the blaze to retrieve those residents still inside prior to the fire department’s arrival. Thankfully, no injuries were reported as a result of the incident, but the home suffered extensive damages, leaving it nearly unrecognizable to those who’ve looked at it from the street so many times.

In response to the situation, neighbours of the homeowners have started a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for the residents as they move through the process of rebuilding.

“Hi everyone! I’m starting this fundraiser for our lovely neighbors Manny, Connie, Shawn & Lisa. For many years their home at the corner of Bexley & Davis Drive in Kingston, Ontario has brought joy to our neighborhood and to the city, with their beautiful and elaborate display of Christmas lights & Holiday decorations,” Ajo Joseph writes on the GoFundMe page.

“But their kind and caring heart is evident to everyone on our street not just during the holiday season but all the year through.”

According to Kingston Fire and Rescue, the cause of the incident, which Joseph describes as a “savage fire” on the GoFundMe page, has been classified as undetermined. The estimated cost of the damages from the fire is $150,000, the local fire department said.

Kingstonist has reached out to Kingston Fire and Rescues to find out if the extensive damages are the reason the cause of the fire has been “classified as undetermined,” but no response was received by time of publication.

For those in the community who would like and are able to support the residents behind one of Kingston’s most-viewed homes at the holidays, “please donate generously to this fundraiser to help this wonderful family rebuild their home & their lives,” Joseph writes on the GoFundMe page.