Helping families who lost everything in Limberlost fire

Fire crews worked for several hours on a blaze at a Limberlost townhouse complex in London, Ont. on Saturday, October 3, 2015. (Sean Irvine / CTV London)

Victims are starting to come to terms with their loss after a weekend fire that displaced 12 families and caused over $1.5 million in damage.

Saturday's stubborn fire on Limberlost Road in northwest London destroyed six of eight connected units.

And while everyone is very grateful to be uninjured, there were losses that cannot be replaced.

Colleen Keddy was back at work Monday, just a short walk from where her home used to be.

"And I never expected to get a call saying our house was on fire."

Keddy, her roommate and their daughters spent the weekend in a hotel courtesy of The Red Cross and The Salvation Army, no they're trying to figure out what's next.

The group doesn't have insurance, Keddy explains, "We just moved in June, and we were just getting everything figured out, so unfortunately we didn't do that in time."

Couches, TVs, beds are all gone but it is the things that can't be replaced that are most painful to lose, she says.

"Our photos, baby photos, really that was most important for me. Everything else - I mean we did lose a lot of stuff - we all had hobbies."

Former city councillor Bud Pohill has already started the ball rolling to accept donations from the public to help the displaced families.

"You gotta look at people and think, how lucky you are that it didn't happen to you, and if you can do something to help them get out of this on a temporary basis then that's what we're trying to do."

Pohill is accepting donations at his garage on Admiral Court until a larger storage area can be found. This isn't the first time he's done this, having helped families after a similar fire five years ago.

"That's what people are supposed to do," Polhill says. "That's what you and I and everybody else is supposed to do. When somebody is down and out you help them."

Anyone wishing to help can donate at the garage, to the Salvation Army or on GoFundMe pages set up for the families.