‘Overwhelming support is incredible:’ Donations pour in for N.S. mechanic after garage fire

A Kentville, N.S., man is rebuilding his garage after a fire destroyed it.

Tires, tools and a car covered in thick black residue are nearly all what’s left of Wyatt Bond’s garage in Kentville, N.S.

A fire broke out at the building early Thursday morning.

“I looked at the window and the corner of the garage here was on fire in a corner that there’s no electrical, no heat on, no welding for weeks. You can’t explain it, but there it is,” says Bond.

His family home near the two-story garage was grazed by the fire.

Neither structure was insured.

“But no one was hurt, that’s the deal. People are the most important thing in the world, always have been to me,” says Bond.

But for the long-time mechanic, it was more than just his workplace. It was a gathering space where people could borrow tools, learn about cars and get repairs when they couldn’t afford it.

“I felt extremely sad just because I know how much Wyatt has done for so many people, including myself and my family,” says Diane Edwards, a long-time friend.

“My husband, who passed away this winter, would come here all the time. If my husband left the house and said, ‘I’ll be home at three’ and he didn’t come home till six, I knew he was here.”

A GoFundMe campaign has been created, as Bond makes plans to rebuild the garage. So far it has raised more than $13,000.

He says he’s overwhelmed by the outpouring of community support in just 24 hours since the fire.

“Kids have been coming here and fixing their cars and whatnot and using the wrenches since I think ’86,” he says. “I never shed a tear until this morning when some people called with gratitude and said, ‘Listen, when you get ready to do this, we’re here.’ Things I didn’t expect in favours the size you never would expect that aren’t obligated for people to do.”

He credits local fire departments and the RCMP for working together to tackle the flames.

“Within 10 minutes the fire department was here, and they were the most organized thing I’ve seen in a long time.”

He’s grateful for the Kentville community, who in true Nova Scotia fashion, will help him rebuild the structure by offering their tools to the mechanic who first offered his.

“We’ll see where this all goes, but the overwhelming support is incredible,” he says.

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