More than a hundred people are homeless after a fire tore through a Coquitlam apartment building Monday and the city expects the residents could be displaced for several months.
Fire Chief Wade Pierlot said yesterday investigators are combing through the debris in order to determine the cause of the fire, which is believed to have originated outside one of the second floor units. Once crews have completed their investigation, and if it's determined the building is structurally sound, the property would be turned over to the manager and some residents' belongings could be retrieved.
But due to the fact that the doors to each of the 72 units in the building were knocked down by firefighters battling the blaze, there were security issues with allowing unescorted trips into the structure, Pierlot said.
"It could take a day or so," he said. "Once we get in there, I am confident that within a day or so, we can turn it over to the property manager."
Crews got the call at around 4 p.m. Monday and Pierlot said he was in a closed council meeting when he was notified. He walked outside city hall and could see the plume of smoke rising up into the sky.
The fire is believed to have originated on the outside of the building before rising into the crawl-space sized gap between the top-floor units and the roof.
"It really allows the smoke and heat to travel into that void space roof area," Pierlot said. "It goes through that area like there's no tomorrow."
The apartment complex was built in the 1980s, before sprinkler systems were mandated in the B.C. Building Code but Pierlot said that some fire wall protections in the ceiling allowed firefighters to contain the blaze.
All of the residents were evacuated safely from the building, although several pets were unable to be located.
"There are going to be some sad stories," Pierlot said. "We were inundated with pet rescue (requests). But once we withdraw, it is hard to go back in."
Three firefighters were hurt during the blaze but Pierlot said the injuries were fairly minor.
Residents of the Glen Drive building were told to go to nearby Pinetree community centre, where a reception centre was set up and temporary housing could be allocated.
Most had watched in horror as fire crews tried to contain the flames from a truck ladder as well as on the ground. Many came home from work to find the gutted suites and told they had been evacuated.
"I smelled the smoke and I ran so fast," one resident said. "Luckily, my condo is on the other side."
Numerous resources were provided to residents displaced by the blaze. Emergency housing and accommodations were provided through BC Housing (www.bchousing.org) while the Salvation Army and Share Family and Community Services were also assisting.
Pets could also be registered at the reception centre or by emailing [email protected]. The city said it would also update residents on opportunities to donate to those who were displaced by the fire, although it's asking that donations are not dropped off at the Pinetree reception centre.
For a complete list of resources for residents, go to www.coquitlam.ca.
@GMcKennaTC
