Co-workers helping man who lost everything in fire

EDMONTON - It's been almost a week since a massive blaze fire ripped through a south side apartment building, leaving nearly 100 residents homeless. Charlie Pinksen, who did not have renter's insurance, says he lost everything in the fire except the clothes on his back. Fortunately, the generosity of his co-workers is helping him start over.

"Everybody is donating their day, everybody here," says Charlie's nephew Jamie Eveleigh, who's taken in his aunt and uncle in their time of need.

Eveleigh is part of a crew of 15 who spent Wednesday feverishly siding a house in south Edmonton, with each dollar they make this day going to their fellow worker.

"These guys could be making money on their own. We lost a week of work because of the cold, that's a lot of money for these guys. They're here helping Charlie," says Leo Kowalyshyn with Rainguard Eavestroughing.

His co-worker, Roland Fequet, adds that it's important to help those down on their luck. "Everybody here is in the same place, we're not all rich. If you're going to help somebody out and you can't afford it what's a days wage?"

As Charlie looks for a new home, the roughly $4,000 donated to him by his co-workers will make a big difference as he and his wife start to rebuild their lives. It's a gesture that means a lot coming from the men Charlie thinks of as family.

"I had to go around, I didn't want any of the guys seeing me crying," he says.

As for all the others who also lost everything in the fire: "I hope the other people in the building get help from their friends as well," says Kowalyshyn.

Meanwhile, a restoration company has been inside the building left standing. A representative says the first floor had 3 feet of water, another floor suffered extensive smoke damage, while the other two floors didn't look or smell that bad. And according to Mike Sherban of FirstOnSite Restoration, it won't be too much longer before residents should be allowed back in their homes.

"It's possible next week after fire investigators release the scene that tenants will be allowed to go back in."

With files from Kendra Slugoski, Global News