WATCH ABOVE: A two alarm fire destroyed an apartment building in Mission early Tuesday Morning. Gary Bobrovitz reports.
CALGARY – One person was injured in a fire in Mission on Tuesday that badly damaged a four-storey building.
Three units were deemed “do not enter” by city inspectors on Wednesday; the rest are being assessed by the property management and their contractor in order to repair and rebuild, said a Planning, Development and Assessment spokesperson. Property management were put in charge of notifying occupants for re-entry on Wednesday afternoon.
The blaze broke out at the Riverview Place condo complex located at 2204 1st Street S.W. around 5:15 a.m. on Tuesday.
“By the time I was able to get my cat and run out, the flames were just shooting out,” says resident Stephanie Cormier.
“It was just shocking how fast it grew. It was really, really crazy.”
Investigators believe the fire sparked on the balcony of a second-floor unit, and say one person inside suffered minor burns. An investigation by the Calgary Fire Department has determined the “accidental fire” was caused by smoking material put into a planter pot.
“A common cause of fires that start on balconies are either barbeques left on or improper disposal of smoking materials,” says Carol Henke with the Calgary Fire Department.
The Calgary Fire Department says all 66 units in the building were evacuated, and it will be several days before utilities, fire and safety systems are back online. Four units were completely destroyed and others sustained smoke and water damage, said fire officials in a release.
“They’re not going to be allowed back into their suites for quite a while,” says Battalion Chief Paul LeBlanc.
The units will be assessed for re-occupation; structural engineers have been called in to assess the integrity of the building. Crews remained on scene until Wednesday morning to watch for hot spots. Residents are being escorted into their units to pick up essential items.
The Canadian Red Cross is assisting 16 residents by providing emergency food, clothing and accommodations. To donate to the volunteer Canadian Red Cross Personal Disaster Assistance Team, call 1-800-418-1111 or go to www.redcross.ca.
The condo complex was previously impacted by flooding which devastated the city in 2013.
“We’ve already gone through a devastating event,” said resident Andrea Wilkie, who had just moved back into her unit in February.
“I had a lot of struggles with my particular insurance company,” she added. “Our building was hit really hard. I was main floor and it took a year and a half just to get it rebuilt and to get back in.”
“It’s really tragic.”
With files from Erika Tucker and Sarah Offin
GALLERY: Fire at Mission condo complex
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