FORT ST. JOHN -- “So it was definitely extremely emotional. I had a little bit of a breakdown and shed some tears, but I kind of accepted it and there's nothing that I can do to change it,” says Loranne Shields, a single mother of four, who has been left homeless after a house fire in Fort. St John. “I tried to just focus on moving forward and how to get through this as a family.”

On April 29, Shields’ mother was in the home at the time of the fire. She escaped with her life but little else.

Her two kittens died in the fire. Her personal photographs, kids’ toys and all their belongings were destroyed.

She says she tried to save what she can. “Everything in the home that wasn't completely destroyed has severe smoke damage,” explains Shields.

Emergency services are investigating the cause of the fire.

They were able to provide accommodation for the family for three nights. But after, they were told to figure out a plan. Her friend, Kate Hadland, has taken in the family.

The kids, who are six, seven, nine and 10, are traumatized, says Shields. “With the forest fires that have been going on around town and then Fort St. John being put on evacuation alert temporarily, it did cause a lot of anxiety for my oldest. It was a struggle in school and at home for a couple of days.”

Hadland has also set up a GoFundMe to help Shields.

“I do know some people have made donations and I'm very grateful for that. But I know that there's so many people out there that are struggling right now.”