WIIKWEMKOONG—The Ted and Roxanne Recollet family are very grateful for the efforts of the Wikwemikong Tribal Police Service (WTPS) and the Wikwemikong Volunteer Fire Department to rescue their family including two teenage children and the family dog from their burning home in the early morning hours of Saturday, July 13.
“It’s still very difficult to talk about,” stated Ms. Recollet when contacted by The Expositor last Friday. She said in reading a story in The Expositor on the incident last week she became emotional. “It happened so early in the morning. I did wake up to get a drink of water at almost the same time as the police officers arrived, and I had looked out the window on the back deck and everything seemed to be okay. There were no flames.”
After she had gone back to bed Ms. Recollet said, “I heard someone banging on the front door, and then I heard the breaking of a window to get in, and then they alerted us that the house was on fire and everyone needed to get out.”
As was reported in the July 24 edition of The Expositor, in the early morning hours of Saturday, July 13, officers with the WTPS, Constable Gabriel DiSalvo and Sergeant Darrell Mandamin, were on patrol in the main village area of the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory (WUT).
At approximately 3 am officers observed a fire at the rear of the residence situated on Willow Street in the main village area of Wiikwemkoong. Officers immediately attended the residence and made attempts to wake the Recollets.
The officers immediately contacted the Wikwemikong Fire Department and utilized force to gain entry into the residence. There were four tenants inside, and all were escorted out to safety.
The Wikwemikong Fire Department attended and extinguished the blaze. The cause of the fire was deemed accidental.
“I don’t even remember everything that was taking place, it was hard to remember, it was chaos. We were all out of the house, but we couldn’t find our dog who was in the house and that really bothered us,” continued Ms. Recollet. “Then one of the firemen, Chase Assinewai brought our dog to my husband, thankfully.”
“I had recognized WTPS officer (Constable Gabriel) DiSalvo who was telling us to get out of the house,” said Ms. Recollet. “It was three in the morning, and at this time I didn’t know there was a fire, but when we were leaving the house, I could see some of the flames. I don’t even remember if the house was smoky.”
Ms. Recollet and her husband moved the family vehicles away from the house, and the family went to a neighbour’s home. “We stayed with family members the next day, and the police were able to get some items out of the house, like identification and other items. We definitely need to thank the two officers Gabriel and Darrell, and the fire department.”
In an email to The Expositor Ms. Recollet wrote, “The Recollets are extremely grateful to friends, family and Wiikwemkoong community members for their outpour of concern, hugs, telephone calls, texts, messages of love, monetary donations, and clothes donations.” “Thanks to Rainbow Ridge Golf Course for their fundraising efforts from the 50/50 draw they held at their tournament,” raising about $1,400 for the Recollet family.
“Heartfelt chi-miigwech to WTPS, especially to the officers who responded quickly to get us out, Wikwemikong Fire Depart for saving our special pup Milo and Mnidoo M’Nissing crisis team for their emotional support and crisis response; and Wiikwemkoong Rental Property Management for temporary housing until we can move into our new home.”
“Special thanks to the staff of Sheshegwaning Health Centre for their thoughtful card and donation. We are still processing the loss of our home and appreciate the supports that are available to us,” added Ms. Recollet.
