 |
|
|
|
|
  
|
Apartment fire Monday night Heather Lange Northern News Services Published Wednesday, August 24, 2011
The fire originated in the wall space of the apartment's bathroom, travelled through the wall into the ceiling space and then into an adjoining hallway. Fire crews managed to hold the fire to this area and fully extinguished the flames two and half hours after arriving at the apartment building located on 52 Avenue and 51 Street. The occupants of the unit were home when the fire began and called the fire department, activated the building alarm system and had evacuated the building by the time emergency crews arrived, according to a city press release. There were 25 residents living in 18 units in the building. Mayor Gord Van Tighem said no one was injured in the fire. Rosetta Morales, regional manager of the residential division for NPR Limited Partnership (formerly Northern Properties REIT) said the tenants of the two affected units will have to be relocated but the rest will be able to return to Simpson House, hopefully by Friday if not earlier. "There was only two units who that were directly damaged and affected, the rest of the damage occurred in the common area," said Morales. One resident of Simpson House, who wished to remain anonymous, said the property manager told them it would be two days before they would be able to return to their apartment units. The resident said the alternative arrangements for housing last night were not acceptable, and described NPR as unorganized, adding residents were asked to stay on mattresses in other rental properties because the city's hotels were full. Another resident who also wished to remain anonymous, said they were given $20 for food were housed temporarily in a vacant apartment furnished with only an air mattress, sleeping bag, pillow and a case of bottled water. Morales confirmed there were only three or four hotel rooms available and most of the resident are staying in vacant units owned by NPR until they can return home. "We are thankful no one was injured or hurt, that is the main thing. All the staff and everyone pooled right in together," said Morales. There was $300,000 in estimated damage to Simpson House, according to the fire department but Morales estimated the damage at $125,000 to $150,000. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
|
