Salmon Arm firefighters back away as flame escapes an upper level window of a Beatty Avenue NW home on Thursday morning, Dec. 11, 2025. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)
It's been an overwhelming time for Sarah and Adam Lauzé, having experienced a house fire, followed by an outpouring of support from family, friends and community.
The Salmon Arm family, including son August, are currently living in a relative's basement suite, made available to them for as long as they need it after their historic home at 391 Beatty Avenue caught fire on Dec. 11.
While Salmon Arm firefighters were able to contain the blaze to the home's upper level, the damage was significant - and heartbreaking for the family, who purchased it in 2023 when they moved back to town from Kelowna.
"There was no hesitation - this was the house I had always loved and its character suited us so completely," wrote Sarah in a letter to the Observer. "Moving day was like a homecoming, with all of our Salmon Arm friends and family showing up and getting us completely settled in 24 hours on April 22nd, which was also Adam's birthday.
"The past two-and-a-half years have been some of the happiest of our lives. Our return to this town felt so right, and our house felt like home. Then, after 10 years of marriage, we welcomed our baby August to the family."
Sarah refers to the family home as "the little green house on the corner by Churches Thrift Shop," a location familiar to many.
"I am third generation born and raised in Salmon Arm, so I too grew up walking by that house, even going in during its time as Smuggler's Cove," said Sarah. "It had a long history, dating back to 1917 when the Hopkins family built and lived there for its first 50 years.
"There are gaps in my knowledge, but I had a keen interest in the history of the house and surrounding area, and even had the chance to meet with members of the Hopkins family to see old photos and hear their stories."
Sarah was at home with August when a particle alarm went off early Thursday morning, Dec. 11. Around the same time a circuit breaker had blown. She went upstairs to check, opening a crawlspace to become engulfed in smoke. She raced downstairs, grabbed August and got him outside. She then called Adam, who had just left for work. Salmon Arm firefighters arrived on scene around 7:30 a.m., along with RCMP and paramedics.
Family were quick to provide support, including a cousin who was one of the responding firefighters. Others in the community soon followed.
"This town, and in particular this downtown community, has carried us throughout this difficult time in ways that have been overwhelming, and incredibly humbling," said Sarah. "We do not know what to say other than thank you."
Later on Thursday, a co-worker of Sarah's, Eric Lister, launched a gofundme page for the Lauzé family. Donations quickly added up.
As of noon on Dec. 17, more than $13,400 had been raised through the gofundme. That same day, the Lauzés planned to close the page, "absolutely overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity extended to our family in these difficult days after the fire."
"Thank you to everyone who reached out, visited, donated, or simply held us in their thoughts," said the Lauzé family. "We've heard from many who have endured similar circumstances and it has given us heart that we will find a home again...
"This kind of support is something we never would have asked for from a community that has already given so much, and accepting it at all has been a tough decision for us because we know there are so many others in need. Above all, in accepting your support, all three of us (yes, Augie too) want you to know how deeply we value this community, and that there will never be a misfortune in this town again without us knocking on the door to help.
"And so, while we are still finding our footing and figuring out the next steps for our family, it is of the highest importance to us that the support we've received ultimately makes its way back into this community in kind. As soon as we are able, we fully intend to pay this generosity forward in meaningful ways throughout the city of Salmon Arm to the last dollar, and then some."
The Lauzés have a long list of people to thank, from Salmon Arm firefighters and Churches Thrift Store staff, to friends and neighbours and a slough of local businesses, many from the downtown, that continue to reach out and "support us with the essentials (and maybe some creature comforts as well)."
Sarah noted August was "very much enjoying all the donated toys that have shown up, and seems to think we're on some grand adventure."
Asked about the house, Adam said investigations and assessments have yet to begin, and they wait patiently for updates.
"Because of the age and location, there are so many factors and concerned parties," said Adam. "A dream would be to rebuild a house in the image and style of the old one, but simply updated for our growing family. But as to the reality of that actually happening, we have no clue, sadly."
In the meantime, as Sarah says "we are safe, we are together, and we are taking this one day at a time."
"Thank you for showing up for us in an incredibly difficult moment in our lives, and we will never forget it."