After surviving a massive fire, a Winnipeg woman says she’s ‘overwhelmed, in a good way.’

“People have been amazing, helping us out offering donations,” said Helen Procner, who lived in the home right next to the new residential construction site that caught fire last Saturday.

The Westminster Church held a BBQ on Saturday afternoon to help gather donations to put in trust for the families who suffered loss in the fire. The church said they will be covering the cost of the BBQ.

Firefighters battled the ‘huge’ fire on Maryland Street and Westminster Avenue that forced people out of their homes.

Procner, who is in a wheelchair, and her sister were both trapped when their home caught fire.

Although Procner says she was calm, she realized it was a very scary situation.

“I was just thinking, well we couldn’t get out the backdoor where the wheelchair ramp was because it was already on fire. So we went to the front and the front porch was on fire,” she said. “It’s like, you know, we could die here.”

Police said, upon arrival, the construction site was fully engulfed.

“Huge fire, certainly one of the largest the city has seen in quite a few years,” said Const. Rob Carver.

Procner was one of the six people who were taken to hospital.

“It was touch and go – I don’t know, probably another minute, I don’t think we’d be around,” said Procner.

She is currently at St. Boniface hospital where she continues to search for a new place to live. Procner attended the BBQ where she said she got the chance to meet a lot of her neighbours and talk to those who are supporting her and the others affected by the fire.

“Wolseley Winnipeg people are always so kind you know. They always jump up to help us when something happens,” said Procner.

She said that one woman donated a wheelchair to her and she learned that there were GoFundMe pages set up to help her and others affected.

Firefighters donated $250 to the people who were caught in the fire.