No timeline yet for return as damage inspections still ongoing, district says...
Nearly 50 people remain displaced from their homes after a fire at a Chetwynd, B.C., apartment building earlier this week.
Firefighters responded to the Hillside Manor apartments around 4 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 8, where officials say at least one unit was destroyed and several others were damaged.
Steve McLain, chief administrative officer for the District of Chetwynd, says emergency lodging and other services are being provided for about 46 people who were forced to evacuate.
"Everybody's going to be looked after, but it's of course devastating for everybody that was involved," said McLain.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation and McLain says no deaths or serious injuries were reported.
An assessment of the four-storey building is still ongoing. However, there's no timeline yet for when it will be deemed safe for residents to return, he added.
"There's going to be more than one apartment that is rendered unliveable at this point in time," McLain said.
"The apartment that the fire originated in is not inhabitable at all. It was a fairly serious fire."
Volunteer firefighters from both Chetwynd and the neighbouring Moberly Lake First Nation responded to the fire.
Lisa Wiebe says she was asleep when it started in a second-floor apartment below hers.
"We sleep heavily, so we didn't wake up to the alarms or anything," Wiebe said.
"I only woke up because there was a voice in my head telling me to wake up or else you're going to die, over and over again," Wiebe said.
"As soon as I opened my eyes, smoke everywhere. I couldn't see, I couldn't breathe. And that's when I start panicking."
Wiebe says she first tried to escape through her front door, but both the floor and door were too hot to touch.
She opened a window and began screaming for help, catching the attention of firefighters who raised a ladder, allowing her escape with minutes to spare.
"After we got out of that window, that floor, everything collapsed within three minutes," Wiebe said.
"So, if anything took any longer or if I was still sleeping, we would not be here today. I'm thankful that the firefighters got us out just in time."
Wiebe says she lost everything she owned, including a sewing machine that she used for work. She says her dog died from smoke inhalation and one of her cats remains missing.
"Our home, our clothes, everything is gone, so we have to start anew," she said.
Wiebe says she doesn't know what will happen to the building, but that she will be looking for new housing.
She says displaced residents have received food vouchers and been overwhelmed by offers from people who want to donate clothes and other supplies.
"I've never lived in a place where the whole community is wanting to help."
Matt Preprost · CBC News
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