‘Overwhelming’ response to fundraisers for men displaced by fire

Nicholas Pichler left for work Tuesday morning and returned to his home on Fuller Ave. essentially destroyed.

He was one of four men displaced by an early morning house fire in Kelowna that sent plumes of black smoke high into the sky.

“Bottom line is, I am happy my son is okay,” his mother Jody told Kelowna10. “You can’t replace a kid. That is priceless.”

Though her son is safe, he lost nearly everything he owned in the fire, including his beloved eight-year-old cockatiel, Lucifer.

“He visited her everyday until she hatched and then adopted her,” Jody said. “She was very odd … but cool.”

For the 22-year-old, it was his first-time renting. He had also just worked hard to pay off a couch, his first piece of new furniture.

Wanting to help him get back on his feet, Jody set up an online fundraiser. She said there is no shortage of support from the community.

“I can’t believe it. I think about others as well with losing their home to fire and I am just overwhelmed at how many people just reached out,” she said. “I am just grateful for the help. I didn’t think it would be so big.”

She thanked everyone who has helped and encouraged people to keep all four young men in mind as they look to offer support.

That includes Barb Noble’s son, Nathan.

According to an online fundraiser, Barb received a call early that morning from her oldest son, asking if she had heard from Nathan, as he feared it was his home ablaze.

She quickly looked up the story online, confirmed it was Nathan’s house and tried to contact him. To no avail, she raced to the scene.

“It is the worst feeling a parent can have, not knowing if their child is safe,” she wrote.

When she arrived, firefighters assured her everyone made it out safe. She wrote that her son was the only one home at the time of the fire and was awoken when a stranger ran over and banged on the door.

“I am hoping to raise enough to give them a chance to replace the essentials and get a fresh start. It is hard enough in Kelowna for young adults to succeed without having to face this type of adversity,” she wrote. “I am very proud of my son Nathan and want to help him and his roommate's get back on their feet as soon as possible.”

Early in the campaign efforts, they’ve raised over $11,000 collectively.

The fire department continues to investigate a cause but do not believe it to be suspicious.