While about $150,000 was raised for households affected by a fire and explosion incident in Ontario, a local insurance agent has noted that some families will also be covered by their insurer.
On August 14, a car crashed along Woodman Avenue in London, ON. The collision also caused a gas line to rupture, creating an explosion and fire that destroyed three homes in the Old East Village neighbourhood and damaged several others.
A fundraiser was held to support the families affected by the blast and fire. CBC News reported that of the $150,000 generated by the charity effort, about $50,000 had already been distributed. Families unable to move back to their properties received $2,000, while those who were evacuated from their homes got $250.
Local insurance agent Eric Gagne, of Town and Country Mutual Insurance, commented that the money raised would be used to cover expenses incurred in the meantime, as well as for repairs and costs that are not covered by insurance. But most of the families impacted by the fire are likely insured, the agent noted, and it is only a matter of time until their coverage takes effect.
“The question would be sifting through who is in need, what do they need to continue forward, and… what to do with funds that maybe are not used in the effort to help people that are displaced or don’t have proper coverage,” Gagne told CBC News.
Gagne added that while the exact scope of the damages has yet to be determined, $150,000 seems like a “larger number,” so there could be money left over after everything is settled.
“I would like to think that the money will go back into the community somehow to better the environment and give value back to the people that have experienced the loss in that area,” he said.
A number of households have already passed on the funds.
“Some of the families, who do feel their needs have been covered by insurance, have said that they don’t need the funds. That is a wonderful and honest expression of generosity. They would like to see it go back to the broader pool,” remarked Old East Village Community Association volunteer Kate Graham.
