Elena Sutherland Tobin and Brayden Carmichael lost everything in a devastating house fire, including their two beloved pets, and are trying to rebuild.

By Tommy Osborne

House Fire

Young couple “starting from zero” mourns loss of beloved pets in devastating house fire

Dec 12, 2025 | 3:41 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – A young Prince George couple had their lives turned upside down on a day that began pretty routinely. On December 8, 2025, Brayden Carmichael was at work, while Elena Sutherland Tobin decided to do some Christmas shopping. However, tragedy would unexpectedly hit when Elena received a phone call that their house was on fire.

“It didn’t seem real, but all I remember saying is, ‘what do you mean? What do you mean the house is on fire? I don’t understand.’ I didn’t think it was real. I kind of just froze and didn’t know what to do, but I ran as fast as I could over there,” Elena explained.

“I remember seeing just black smoke pooling out of the windows, shooting out of the door. And all I could think about was (our pet dog and cat) Maria and Lillith,” she continued.

The scene outside the house on December 8, 2025.

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The cost was heavy, in both the literal and figurative sense, as Elena and Brayden would lose just about all of their possessions, and the house suffering an estimated $120,000 in damages. However, the biggest loss to both of them is not the money or possessions, but their two beloved pets Maria and Lillith, who would tragically pass away in the fire.

“They’re irreplaceable. No matter what we do, we can’t bring them back,” Elena said.

“It hasn’t even fully set in, like, the shock is still on. We haven’t been able to fully process it yet this early into it,” added Brayden.

“We’re starting from basically zero again,” Elena continued.

Lillith and Maria (Image Credit: Courtesy Elena Sutherland Tobin)

Both Brayden and Elena describe Maria and Lillith as their “best friends” and “family,” and the loss of these companions weighs heavy on their hearts as they struggle to reconcile everything else that has been lost in the fire.

“She was my best friend for the past eight years. I never bonded with an animal more than her. Wherever she would go, I would follow. Wherever I would go, she would follow. She was so special to me. She was my entire world,” Elena said, describing Maria.

“She was my best friend as well. She acted like a dog, like a little lapdog. Followed me around everywhere behind my feet. Anytime I’d sit down to read she’d sit right on my lap, just like your little Maria. It’s just very devastating to lose our little family,” Brayden added, describing Lillith.

As they try to handle the loss of their pets, they are also faced with the loss of just about everything else, ranging from necessities like clothes and work gear, to sentimental objects like photos and valuable items picked up during travels.

“It’s just her and me, we hold on to each other and hold on to that and just try to take it hour by hour, day by day,” Brayden and Elena said.

Amid this incredibly challenging time just weeks before Christmas, the community has rallied behind a GoFundMe to help them cover expenses and give them a boost as they try to rebuild their lives.

“Just to see the community come together like this is, it just blows my mind a little bit. And it does make it a lot easier for us to go through this process,” Brayden said.

“Whether it’s just a message, a phone call, a donation, any little thing helps and it makes it easier,” Elena said.

If you would like to support their efforts, you can visit the GoFundMe HERE. Among other things, the money will help them repurchase basic necessities, support emergency living costs, and cremation/memorial costs for Maria and Lillith.