Montana News

Cascade family rebounds after house fire

Posted: Feb 26, 2013 8:55 PM by Claire Anderson - MTN News

Earlier this month, we brought you to the scene of a house fire in Cascade that left a family who's already faced their fair share of struggles without a home. It's been a long two and a half weeks, but the family is now getting ready to move into a new apartment.
The family of three was left with practically nothing after an early morning fire destroyed their home, but after several weeks of living out of a cramped hotel room, they are ready for a change.
Fatima Rodriguez said, "It's pretty cramped, having three people live in a hotel room."
Her son Nicholas agreed: "Sharing a bathroom with three people is the worst idea ever invented."
The family has been in Great Falls since the fire and by moving back to town, Nicholas is excited to not have the extra drive time as well: "I don't have to take two trips to and from Great Falls every day, which means I don't have to get up as early and I can actually do stuff after school now."
After our story aired, a Cascade apartment attendant contacted the family to show them an available wheelchair-accessible home.
Fatima said, "It's pretty great, it's in Cascade so Nicholas can still go to school and finish out his school year without us having to drive him in all the time."
And with the wheelchair lift, handicap bathroom, and open area, it is the ideal living space while their old home remains only a block away.
Michael Saunders said, "In a lot of ways it will be like being at home for him because he will be able to move around and have his freedom again.
This family may have lost everything, but more than material things and a new home, it's the normalcy that they are looking forward to the most.
Friends of the family are hosting a Zumbathon and silent auction on Saturday, March 16, at the Great Falls Recreation Center at noon; a $10 donation will get you into the event.