Help needed for retired Calgary veteran whose trailer was destroyed in fire

Neighbours of a man who lost his mobile home in a fire last week are doing everything they can to help the retired veteran get back on his feet.

Gordon McIntosh didn't have insurance, and now he needs to replace everything from his winter boots to his television after his trailer in the Midfield Mobile Home Park on 16th Avenue N.E. was destroyed in a fire on Dec. 7.

The 65-year-old has been staying with his brother in Calgary since then and saidhe doesn't know where he will go next.

• Man injured in fire at Midfield Trailer Park

"I have no thoughts of future," he said. "I'm just trying to deal with now."

McIntosh was able to save his nine-year-old dog, Abby, from the blaze, but his pet bird unfortunately died.

One of McIntosh's neighbours, Tracy Peters, is asking Calgarians to come to his aid.

"We're hoping that someone has maybe a spare television, maybe a spare laptop, because those are two things that seniors use to pass the time, especially when it's 23 C or 30 C and they can't go outside a lot," she said.

McIntosh won't be able to rebuild in the same location,as Midfield Mobile Home Park is slated to close in September 2017. Removing his damaged trailer from the rented lot is expected to cost between $10,000 and $12,000.

McIntosh's daughter started a GoFundMe page, which had raised $3,895 of its $20,000 goal by Friday afternoon.

McIntosh said he's grateful for the help as the community is one of the reasons he loved living in his trailer.

"I'll have to find some other place to live, so not sure," he said when asked where he will go.

"Going to miss the park though."

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