Saskatchewan·First PersonKim Burrows was devastated when a fire spread from a neighbour’s house to hers, destroying a camper and a car gifted to her by her parents, along with other belongings. But rebuilding project helped her work through her emotions, and find something else — pride in her accomplishment.I still miss the things I lost. But when I look at the shed I rebuilt myself, I see what I gainedKim Burrows · for CBC First Person · Posted: Nov 02, 2025 7:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 5 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 5 minutesKim Burrows was devastated when a fire claimed precious belongings. Rebuilding the shed behind her reminded her she was bigger than her losses. (Janani Whitfield/CBC)This First Person article is the experience of Kim Burrows, who lives in Regina. For more information about CBC’s First Person stories, please see the FAQ. It was 4 a.m. on a cold winter morning when I was awakened by the loud knocking on my front door by my neighbour, who told me my property was on fire. I opened my back door and saw the huge flames from my shed and smelled smoke.I ran downstairs to grab the pet carrier for my three cats, who seemed alarmed by my behaviour.As I walked across the street and into my neighbour’s house, the flashing of lights from the firetruck outside my house filled the skies. I was anxious and shaking as I heard loud bangs — it was my camping propane tanks exploding in the fire. The sky was glowing orange over my house. I was barely able to breathe, tears falling from my face as my neighbor hugged me. My chest was tight as I slid down the wall.Just one hour later, the fire marshal confirmed the fire was out but that the shed was gone along with everything inside it. The 2006 Toyota Camry Solara convertible that had been gifted to me by my parents — gone. My 1972 restored Boler camper I had had for over 20 years — gone. Memories up in smoke Both that car and camper held so many memories for me, including hanging out in the small space of the Boler as it rained or laughing for hours with my girlfriends in there. It was my little ball of pleasure because it had almost everything I needed to go camping in such a small space. A 1972 restored Boler camper that sat at the back of Burrows house in Regina was destroyed in a fire. (Submitted by Kim Burrows)I had been so proud to be gifted my mom and dad’s convertible. My mom and I had once driven it from British Columbia to Saskatchewan. In one stretch from British Columbia, it rained four times on us, but we just kept on driving with the open top down while we dried off. People drove by laughing, and we laughed along with them. It was a memory I will never forget, spending time with my mom. When my niece was younger, we would try to eat ice cream with the wind blowing our hair everywhere. When she grew older and started driving the car, I’d hang on, white-knuckling the door handle in the back. She looked so great in the car. Beyond her memories of driving in her parents’ car, Burrows said that she loved seeing her niece Brooke take the car for a spin. (Submitted by Kim Burrows)A fire investigation would later confirm what my cameras caught: the fire from the neighbours’ fire pit, which wasn’t built to code, had spread to my property before consuming my shed. One careless evening, caused by someone not putting out a fire, had changed my life forever.I called my parents, crying in pain because their car had burned down. I was very apologetic. They were just glad that the cats and I were safe. While I was physically fine, I didn’t feel fine. There were moments I couldn’t breathe from the heaviness in my chest. I kept thinking: What if I hadn’t woken up? What if the fire spread faster to my home? Rebuilding my shed and my lifeAfter I received my insurance money, I decided I was going to rebuild my shed. I needed a new shed, but more than that, I needed to feel in control again. I measured the yard. I drew up a plan. Bought the wood, nails, siding, roofing and final materials to complete it. With the help of my friend and his truck, we hauled it to my home. He helped me level the paving stones to start building the base. I picked up the drill, the screws, and the saw, and got to work.Burrows felt pride in rebuilding her shed after a fire destroyed the old one. (Submitted by Kim Burrows)I remember sitting on the floor partway through, drill in hand, and just sobbing. Grief. Frustration. Anger. They all ran through me.But I felt something else too — pride. With every screw I drilled in, every board I lifted, I was proving something to myself. I was going to build this shed bigger and better than last time. And I did. The new shed is bigger. Stronger. It’s not just a replacement — it’s a monument to the fact that I didn’t give up. I rebuilt what was taken from me, piece by piece, with my own hands.There are still moments when I miss the things I lost. But now, when I look at the shed, I see what I gained, too: resilience, confidence and a reminder that even after everything burned down — I rebuilt, rebought and will move on.Do you have a compelling personal story that can bring understanding or help others? We want to hear from you. Email sask-first-person-grp@cbc.ca to learn more. ABOUT THE AUTHORKim Burrows grew up in Saskatchewan and calls Regina home, where she works for the provincial government. Outside of her day job, she enjoys hands-on work as well as building and creating projects that bring her both challenges and fulfilment.
A fire destroyed my belongings in one moment. Learning the loss didnt define me took longer
