EDMONTON – About 130 residents forced out of a transitional housing facility in downtown Edmonton Wednesday are being housed temporarily by several local non-profit groups.
Dwayne’s Home – a transitional housing residence at 100 Avenue and 102 Street – was evacuated just before 3 p.m. Wednesday when a fire broke out in a suite on the third floor.
One resident, who witnesses say crawled out of his third floor window and hung onto the outside ledge before dropping to the ground below, was taken to hospital with undetermined injuries.
“I saw smoke coming out of his window, and I called for a fire truck,” said resident Cherie, “and then he had come outside the window, he was holding on, and he couldn’t hold on any more. He let go, and I called back for an ambulance.”
District Fire Chief Randy Shakura, with Edmonton Fire Rescue Services, said the man was the only person injured.
WATCH: Raw video – fire crews battle fire at Dwayne’s Home
Fire crews were still trying to determine the exact cause of the fire and the damage it caused.
Dave Martyshuk, the manager of Dwayne’s Home, said an estimated $400,000 in damage was caused. He added that a tenant barricaded himself in the suite where the fire started.
“He started a fire, not sure if it was deliberate or otherwise,” he said.
“We’re still trying to figure out the extent of the damage and that’s going to really tell us how long these people are going to be out of this building,” explained Shakura.
“Fire damage was confined to the suite of origin, but there’s extensive water and smoke damage that occurred to the rest of the building,” said Wayne Pawlowski, Chief of Investigations for Edmonton Fire Rescue Services, on Thursday.
Martyshuk said 15 units were affected, and four of those units will be out of commission for about a month. However, Martyshuk says tenants from those suites will be accommodated in other, affiliated housing facilities. All other residents should be able to return by noon on Friday.
“It’s definitely a setback,” said Martyshuk. “We put a lot of effort and a lot of energy into this facility, and we have a lot of plans for this facility. It’s definitely disheartening.”
The Hope Mission and the Salvation Army have been working together to provide residents with temporary accommodations.
Fifty-eight male residents slept at the overflow shelter at the Salvation Army facility Wednesday night, while 30 female residents were given shelter at the Hope Mission.
A spokesperson for the Hope Mission says the same accommodations will be offered Thursday night. The organization has also been offering meals and support services to the evacuees.
Martyshuk says a bus load of residents were taken from the Hope Mission to the Shaw Conference Centre on Thursday where they will be housed and fed overnight.
Members of the Canadian Red Cross Personal Disaster Assistance Team have also been working in partnership with the City of Edmonton, Alberta Health Services, the Inner City Police and Crisis Team, Bissell Centre and other community organizations to support the evacuated residents.
Alberta Health Services has been offering emergency medications.
The Edmonton Emergency Relief Services Society (EERSS) is also helping those affected by the Dwayne’s Home fire. The group is asking for donations of towels, unopened toiletries, new socks and underwear, clean men’s clothing, and clean winter coats, gloves, hats and boots.
Donations can be dropped off at the EERSS warehouse at 10255-104 Street Monday to Friday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Call (780) 428-4422 for more information.
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