Maryland fire victim stranded in hospital after wheelchair lost in blaze

A woman who was rescued from her home during a massive blaze this weekend remains stranded in hospital after her wheelchair was destroyedin the fire.

NedaProcnerwas trapped in her home inWolseleySaturday during a fire that destroyed her home, an apartment complex under construction and another home nearby. She and her sister Helen, who is in a wheelchair, were rescued by four firefighters, but they had to leave the wheelchair behind.

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• Winnipeg woman trapped with sister in wheelchair as massive fire surrounds house.

"That complete moment froze in time for me as she described it,"Anne Fountain said.

As someone with a son who has disabilities, Fountain said the Procners'nightmarish story struck a chord and now she wants to help.

"It touched my heart thinking of how I would get my son out of my house if there'd been a fire,"Fountain said. "The thought has crossed my mind numerous times and I know it's crossed the minds of other parents [and caregivers who] are part of our children with disabilities community."

Fountain said she can relate to the kind of dilemma NedaProcner was likely facing as the fire tore through her home, cornering she and her sister.

"That sheer panic of Neda, who was trying to get out of her house with her sister, and didn't want to leave her sister in the home to go and get help, but at the same time, knowing she had to get her sister out of the house that juxtaposition of 'What do you do?'"Fountain said.

Winnipeg woman Neda Procner reflects on nearly dying in house fire with sister in wheelchair

8 years ago

Duration 3:59

A Winnipeg woman is grateful she and her sister are alive following a massive fire that destroyed a condominium complex and a number of homes in Winnipeg's Wolseley on Saturday.

"The fear she must have been feeling, and the desperation."

Fountainis in the middle of renovating her home andplans to donate her kitchen table, along with furniture and clothes, to the Procners to help them get back ontheir feet. She also starteda GoFundMe campaign to help raise funds to replace thewheelchair lost in the fire.

Fountain reached out to the non-profit group St. Amantand says theyare working to line Helen up with a wheelchair temporarily so she can leave the hospital.

"The wheelchair is her ability; that's how she gets from 'a' to 'b.' It's something we take for granted,"Fountain said. "Her basic need right now is a wheelchair, above everything else."

Adam Hannah lives in Wolseley andis collecting cash donations for the Procners and a family of four who also lost their home in the fire. He ran down the street to wake the family before fire crews arrived on the scene Saturday.

RAW: Fire rips through condo, homes at Westminster and Marlyand intersection

8 years ago

Duration 1:38

Doug Kretchmer filmed a blaze that ripped through a condo and homes in Wolseley Saturday morning at the corner of Westminster Avenue and Maryland Street.

"I have kids of the same age and I think it doesn't take a lot of imagination for us to put ourselves in their position,"he said, adding people started dropping donations at his house "almost immediately"after the fire.

Support from others in the community is also on the rise.

Helen's acquaintanceEdna Nabess is collecting cash and clothing donations at her store Cree Creations.

"When you see someone in need you should help them," Nabess said. "There is a need. If we can help, we should help."

Westminster Church is also accepting cash donations on behalf of the families. There will be apublic community event at noon Saturday. Food and drinks will be served and a conversation will take place about how the crisis has affected the community.

With files from CBC's Erin Brohman