Community rallies behind Stittsville family after fire destroys home
A Stittsville family is grateful for the outpouring of community support after a fire ripped through their dream home.
"It’s been rough, it’s been rough, but thank you everybody," said Sean Toogood, who credits his eight-year-old son for alerting everyone to the smoke.
The family of four escaped with only their cats and a few belongings before the home was completely engulfed early Thursday morning.
"It’s surreal but then the support came in at a time when you’re literally falling," said Whitney Toogood, Sean’s wife.
On Friday, the Toogood family explained to Newstalk 580 CFRA's Ottawa Now with Kristy Cameron that their son Mason woke up them up when he couldn't get back to sleep and said, "something smells funny."
Friends and family have dropped off dozens of donations this week, including warm clothes, gift cards, food, and toys.
An online fundraiser has already garnered $25,000 in 48 hours.
The family says the support has been incredible and they are beyond thankful for their loved ones.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Ont. and Que. scramble to recover from thunderstorm that left at least 7 dead
Clean-up efforts are underway after a massive thunderstorm on Saturday left a trail of destruction in Southern Ontario and Quebec.

How concerned should we be about monkeypox?
Global health officials have sounded the alarm over rising cases in Europe and elsewhere of monkeypox, a type of viral infection more common to west and central Africa. Here's what we know about the current outbreak and the relative risk.
43 CP Rail cars carrying potash derail east of Fort Macleod, Alta.
Clean up is underway after 43 CP Rail train cars carrying potash left the track Sunday morning east of Fort Macleod, Alta.
BREAKING | Ontario storm leaves seven dead and tens of thousands without power
The death count following a destructive storm that ripped through much of southern Ontario continues to rise.
Tens of thousands without power after severe storm hits Ottawa
Hydro Ottawa says it will take several days to restore power and clean up after a severe storm damaged hydro poles and wires on Saturday.
Huawei 5G ban delay wasn't tied to efforts to free Spavor and Kovrig, Mendicino says
Canada's Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino insists the once unknown fate of Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig was not why the government delayed its decision to ban Huawei technologies from Canada's 5G network.
Justice Mahmud Jamal reflects on his first year on the Supreme Court bench in new special interview
Ahead of his one-year anniversary on the Supreme Court of Canada this July, Mahmud Jamal spoke with CTV National News National Affairs Correspondent Omar Sachedina to reflect on his past year on the bench.
Taliban enforcing face-cover order for female TV anchors
Afghanistan's Taliban rulers on Sunday began enforcing an order requiring all female TV news anchors in the country to cover their faces while on-air. The move is part of a hard-line shift drawing condemnation from rights activists.
78,000 pounds of infant formula arrives in U.S.
Enough specialty infant formula for more than half a million baby bottles arrived Sunday in Indianapolis.