Tatamagouche-area man still unable to work after surviving fatal fire
By CATHY VON KINTZEL Truro Bureau
TATAMAGOUCHE — A Colchester County man who narrowly survived a fatal house fire in Sudbury, Ont., in March says he’s been left traumatized, unable to work and worried about making ends meet.
“Like a slide projector of flashbacks” is how 57-year-old John Rice describes horrific memories of the blaze that claimed the life of a co-worker and left another badly burned shortly after midnight March 29.
His large hands shook constantly at his kitchen table Monday — his birthday — as he discussed the fire and the frightening panic attacks that grip him without warning day and night. They leave him reliving the fire, thrashing and banging around the Tatamagouche-area mobile home he shares with wife Phyllis.
“I was never this way,” he said of the attacks, forgetfulness and headaches that he says doctors attribute to post-traumatic stress.
Mr. Rice was a driller’s helper for Logan Drilling of Stewiacke and living in a two-storey house rented by the company when the early-morning fire woke him.
He said he banged on doors, shouted and ran in and out of the building several times to alert and try to save the building’s seven occupants. Most were co-workers but one was a young child.
One man died — Ray MacDonald, 46, of Truro — and Mr. Rice’s roommate, whom he hauled out of bed twice because he went back to bed the first time, was badly burned.
Mr. Rice also tried to save Mr. MacDonald but was too weak and collapsed in the dense smoke; he had to be pulled out of the building by a volunteer firefighter.
Much of that night and ensuing days are a blur, including being treated briefly in hospital, calling his wife from a hotel room and boarding an airplane to Halifax. The weeks since have been consumed by the memories, medical appointments and frustration over not being able to work.
The couple had bought a new boat, thinking Mr. Rice would be able to fish for lobster as usual this spring in the Northumberland Strait but the season opened April 30 and the boat is still in the yard.
Ms. Rice has Crohn’s disease and gets a $300 disability pension every month. Her husband’s company benefits cover his medication costs but he doesn’t have short-term disability. That’s left the couple short of cash right now as they wait for his employment insurance sickness benefits to begin and they explore other options.
Steven Mundle of Logan Drilling said Tuesday he just got word from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board in Ontario that injuries related to the fire, which is still under investigation, are eligible for benefits, although the process will take time.
But the Rices were overwhelmed to get a call Tuesday morning that a fundraising dance will be held for them June 9 at the Tatamagouche Royal Canadian Legion, and people in town are looking for other ways to lend a hand.
“It’s just awful the life he has to lead,” Ms. Rice said, adding no one can say how long the situation will last.
“He’s been home 40 days and there’s still no change.”
( cvonkintzel@herald.ca)
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