'It's a hard mess': Carver loses part of home in Happy Valley-Goose Bay fire

Carver and artist John Neville is struggling to rebuild, after a fire partially gutted his home in Happy Valley-Goose Bay early Sunday morning.

Neville was at work around 6:45 a.m. when a neighbour called, alerting him to the blaze.

"Oh my God, Irushed downtown as hard as Icould.And when Igot here the fire departmentwas here, and they were going right to her then," he told CBC Radio's Labrador Morning.

"Your life is automatically changed."

Neville bought the house about ten years ago, and said walking into it after thefire brought back a lot of ghosts.

"The memories of my grandson, making his first steps that was really hard,when Iwalked in and it was all burned out here," he said, choking up.

Built carving by carving

Neville spent years renovating the house, all paid for through his artwork.

• After 40 years, Labrador artist John Neville putting away carving tools

"I usedto have to sell a carving one day,and whatever Igot with that carving, I'd go and buy a couple of sheets of plywood. It was like putting together a puzzle," he said.

"Knowing that Ihave to tear it down now, it's a hard mess.It's a terrible state."

Neville said the May 1 fire began in his bedroom, and ripped through his roof, meaning both need to be replaced. Hevows to rebuild, although he had no insurance to help do so.

"I'm not really worried about building it, but the money is the problem," he said.

Neville said friends have already come forward to pitch in, a gesture that strengthened his faith.

"I'm not going to give up on God because this happened." he said.