North Point Douglas community grieves in aftermath of fatal rooming house fire

A worker at the North Point Douglas Women's Centre is trying to accept that one of the centre's regular visitors — an "active, helpful all around good woman," according to community members — died in Thursday's rooming house fire.

Brenda Campbell, 51, perished in the flames along with John McKinnon Bendon, 61, police say. 

"It hit me really hard," said Hilary Forbes, the basic needs coordinator at the nearby centre, who only learned of the death on Monday morning.

"She was … always really happy, always smiling."

Campbell's family and friends set up a memorial for her outside what is left of the three-storey rooming house. 

"I love you cousin," one message read. Another, written on a sign placed by a tree in front of the house, read, "RIP my dear friend."

Despite that Campbell walked with a cane, Forbes said she helped out in the community, including during the Austin Street Festival.

"Today, it's really quiet here," Forbes said.

"Our main focus right now is to help our community members with their grieving."

'Gentle and kind'

According to Grace Point Church pastor Trevor Berg, Campbell visited several times, even inviting Berg into the rooming house, where he prayed together with its residents.

She was "gentle and kind," Berg said.

Since the fire, he's been in touch with those who were closest to her.

"I've spoken with some of the family … This is pretty heavy on them. This hurts," he said. 

"They don't know what to do with their emotions."

The fire broke out in the Austin Street home around 1:40 a.m. on Thursday. Thirteen others escape, and Campbell and McKinnon Bendon were the only ones who did not make it.

Investigators say flames were deliberately set and police are considering the fire a homicide.