Help needed for families after south London explosion

A townhouse complex that was the scene of an explosion remains cordoned off in London, Ont. on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2014. (Celine Moreau / CTV London)

About a dozen people were left shaken and homeless after a massive explosion and fire at a south London housing complex.

Several families, some with very young children were left with just the shirts on their backs after Friday's explosion.

Ashley McClatchey, along with her 19-month-old son, six-month-old daughter and dog are all trying to make the best of a bad situation.

She says her son was playing in the backyard when a massive explosion sent glass flying everywhere and had them running to safety.

"Everyone came running over to my house yelling 'Ashley please tell me where your babies are, get them out of the unit, get your dog, let's go, come on.'"

A large fire followed the explosion and caused around $600,000 in damage to the complex, which has been deemed no longer structurally sound.

Some of the residents were allowed in for just a couple minutes to grab some of their things.

"I ran in and grabbed some formula for the kids some diapers, just kid necessities. Forgot my wallet, my ID and bank card, didn't think about that just grabbed things for them," McClatchey says.

It is still up in the air whether she can return to get more of her belongings.

In the meantime she and her family have been put up in a motel and will get keys to a new unit possibly on Friday.

She's thankful, but knows her family - as well as several others affected - will be moving in with nothing.

"I don't have much. I have a playpen somebody donated to me, I have a stroller that's broken that someone gave me but I am thankful for it. Other than that I have no beds, no appliances."

The London Community Chaplaincy, which is located in the complex, is doing what it can to help the displaced residents

Member Kate Ballagh-Steeper says "The chaplaincy is here to help them as much as they want us to, we have a pretty broad network of supporters across the city so hopefully we will be able to do that."

As for McClatchey, she is taking it one day at a time, but is hopeful that soon things can slowly get back to normal for the sake of her kids.

She also hopes sharing her story will bring help from the community for the other families impacted by the fire.