Fire sends residents into the cold

By Dan Hilborn
Published May 3, 2006


A dozen people needed rescuing and a total of 56 people were evacuated after a three-alarm fire struck an aging apartment building in the 6600 block of Dow Avenue in the early hours of Monday morning.

When firefighters arrived on the scene at about 2 a.m., they discovered flames shooting six metres (20 feet) above the roof of the two-storey building, said Shaun Redmond, staff officer for the Burnaby Fire Department.

"The crews on scene had to work extremely quickly, and they were able to get the people out of that situation amazingly fast," Redmond said. "They got them out of a dangerous situation in a very quick manner.

"I guess they were looking at the time of night and the likelihood that people in their suites were still asleep," Redmond said. "It was a real concerted effort. They could see the urgency and they did a great job."

Debbie Clyne, emergency social services coordinator for the City of Burnaby, said the affected residents have been told that they won't be allowed back into their homes for the foreseeable future.

"They won't be able to go back into their suites for at least three or four days, even for clothing, and some of them are in their bare feet and pajamas," Clyne said Tuesday morning.

After spending the night at the city's official reception centre inside the Bonsor Recreation Complex, the evacuated residents were taken by bus to the South Burnaby United Church thrift shop to obtain replacement clothing, before being taken to the Best Western Kings Inn, where they will receive 72 hours accommodation.

While none of the tenants had home insurance and all of them are in need of financial assistance, Clyne said there were several positive aspects to the community's immediate response to the fire.

"We had the fire chaplain call with an offer of help, which we've never had before, and we're having South Burnaby Neighbourhood House help out by accepting financial donations," she said. "And B.C. Housing phoned to find out about the impact, which is also highly unusual.

"The system is amazing," she said. "It's well-organized and people are stepping up to the plate to help."

After reports of the fire were broadcast on local radio stations, the Tzu Chi Foundation also called the mayor's office to provide any other assistance that might be needed, Clyne said.

While a formal investigation had yet to begin, Redmond said the fire appears to have started on an exterior wall at the rear of the building and quickly spread upwards. A police department cordon has been set up around the building, indicating the fire may be viewed as suspicious.

The only reported injuries were minor cuts to the hand of one female tenant who broke a window in order to have her family rescued by ladder and similar injuries to one firefighter.

The blaze was initially reported as a two-alarm fire - with two engines, a ladder truck and command unit responding - but was soon upgraded to a three-alarm fire, adding another engine and two ladder trucks to the contingent. The department also called in a dozen off-duty firefighters to ensure the rest of the city had adequate fire coverage during the incident.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the affected tenants is asked to send cheques to the South Burnaby Neighbourhood House at 4845 Imperial St., Burnaby, BC., V5J 1C5, or call 604-431-0400. Put 'Dow Avenue fire fund' in the memo portion of the cheque.

Clyne also noted that this is the second major apartment fire on Dow Avenue this year, after an estimated 40 people were evacuated from a similar blaze about two months ago.