Outpouring of support for small business destroyed in fire feels like 'a giant hug'

On Monday night when Leigh McFarlanewent to put her laundry in the dryer, she was met with a frightening sight.

McFarlane said she saw "apuff of smoke" come out of the dryer before realizing the washing machine was on fire.

"There was an orange glow in the washer, which was spinning at the time, and I wasn't successful in putting it out, and it just went," she said in an interview Wednesday, two days after her home and business in Sherbrooke, N.S., burned to the ground.

McFarlane's home on the eastern shore waswhere she made natural soaps, skincare and cleaning productsfor her business, The Soap Company of Nova Scotia.

McFarlane said everythingfrom the house is gone.

"I have a few things, like a few memorabilia, things in the barn, which fortunately did not burn down," she said."I'm so grateful for that, but I lost all of my own personal possessions. A lot of really precious, precious, precious family heirlooms.

"The cradle that generations of babies slept in, quilts, those really precious things. And our entire business operation is gone completely."

Luckily, no one was hurt in the fire, and McFarlane said the outpouring of support has kept her going.

"It's like we are all held up in a giant hug. That's what it feels like," she said.

She said the local Lions Club brought her a chequeto make sure she had the basics to go forward and neighbours have stopped by with donations. Some of her employees have also started an online fundraiser.

Business will go on

McFarlane said the Soap Company of Nova Scotia was preparing for Sherbrooke's Christmas in the Village event, and she had taken a load of products to the venue earlier on Monday before the fire.

"So we do actually have some things for this weekend, so that's our little bright light right there," she said.

All her other stock is gone,including 31 retail orders that were in their boxes with shipping labels attached, ready to be mailed on Tuesday.

McFarlane said she will be staying at her mother's house for the time being while she and the company start to regroup.

"We're working on what it is that we need to do next,we're getting insurance and stuff figured out," she said.

"I just can't get overthe love. Basically, it's just a whole lot of love coming our way, andit's pretty amazing and pretty humbling."

The Soap Company of Nova Scotia destroyed by fire

3 years ago

Duration 5:13

The CBC's Amy Smith spoke with Leigh McFarlane, founder of The Soap Company of Nova Scotia, who lost her business and her home on Monday night.