The blaze that broke out in a Vernon condominium complex Monday has forced 29 people from their homes.
Eight units in Arbor Lee Strata (3800 40th Ave.) were heavily damaged (while damage was also sustained to additional units) after a fire broke out on the balcony of one of the suites. Vernon Fire Rescue Services responded to the stubborn structure fire shortly before 7 p.m.
An estimated $2 million in damage occurred and 29 individuals from 11 families are currently receiving Emergency Social Services assistance.
91裸聊视频淪ome families are staying with family and friends while others are staying at the Vernon Lodge,91裸聊视频� said VFRS deputy chief Scott Hemstad.
Despite the damage, no occupants were injured from the fire. In fact some four-legged residents were saved.
91裸聊视频淎fter the fire was extinguished we actually located three family pets. So some good news out of a difficult night,91裸聊视频� said Hemstad.
Even Karmen Krystik, whose unit the fire started in, was able to get her pets out safely, as her sister Kortney told The Morning Star.
91裸聊视频淭he fire started on her patio, she was just getting home with her son, heard the bang, seen the smoke and told him to stay in the car and ran inside grabbed her cat and dog and ran out. She lost everything she owns aside from what they had on them.91裸聊视频�
Kortney is hoping friends and the community can help her sister out during this time of need (donations are being accepted via email transfers to karmenkrystik@gmail.com or by visiting the Royal Bank Village Green Centre account #07950-5134143 250 309 0808.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 still in shock,91裸聊视频� said Karmen, who is now homeless and in need of a two-bedroom, pet friendly rental - along with several other residents from the condo.
A gofundme account has also been set up for another family who has lost everything in the fire:
Alysia Preece lives in one of the adjacent units, but not the affected block (the fire was contained to a neighbouring 14-unit block) and got a call from her sister shortly after 6 p.m. saying she needed to get home and get her animals out as her house was on fire.
91裸聊视频淏ut it wasn91裸聊视频檛 our house,91裸聊视频� said five-year-old Chloe Preece, wearing a mask as she watched the firefighters battle the blaze.
91裸聊视频淚t was very scary; I was shaking when I got home,91裸聊视频� said Alysia.
Residents and bystanders were choking on the thick smoke from the blaze, some given masks by emergency crews.
91裸聊视频淭he toxins that come out of structure fires91裸聊视频s extremely toxic,91裸聊视频� said Hemstad. 91裸聊视频淚 would discourage people from being around smoke that was coming off a structure fire.91裸聊视频�
Residents in the eight heavily damaged suites likely won91裸聊视频檛 be able to return for several months.
While the blaze started on the balcony, it got into the attic and spread to nearby units and proved to be stubborn for crews who had to cut open the roof to get at it.
91裸聊视频淚t became a long and difficult struggle based on the years of construction of that building,91裸聊视频� said Hemstad, estimating the building to be built sometime between 1950 and 1970. 91裸聊视频淚t was a difficult fire.
91裸聊视频淎t one point we had to pull our crews out and go defensive which means that it was too dangerous to be inside the structure.91裸聊视频�
The building was heavily damaged by fire, heat, smoke and water.
Coldstream and BX fire departments each supplied fire fighters to help sustain operations during the fire. RCMP, BCAS, and the gas and electrical utilities also supported the response activities.
The housing complex has been secured and fire investigators were on scene Tuesday. At this point no cause of the fire has been determined.
While no residents were injured, one fire fighter received medical attention for minor injuries. But overall, the team effort and work which was needed throughout the night to douse the blaze, is applauded.
91裸聊视频淚 am impressed with our first arriving fire fighters, they did the right things in those first moments which sets up the rest of the operation for success,91裸聊视频� said Lind. 91裸聊视频淭hroughout this event I witnessed excellent team work by all those involved.91裸聊视频�
Narrow roadways and a swarm of onlookers created challenges for crews trying to access the complex. This, and the fact that Arbor Lee backs onto Turtle Mountain, is a concern for neighbours such as Dave Worrall.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e always been worried about a fire on the hill here,91裸聊视频� he said.
Hemstad asks that residents plan and practice a fire escape plan from their home.
91裸聊视频淩emember, you need two ways out.91裸聊视频�
