30 tenants displaced following apartment fire in Moncton

A fire has extensively damaged the back portion of a 16-unit apartment building on McLaughlin Road in Moncton, N.B. and forced around 30 people out of their homes.

According to Canadian Red Cross, the fire was reported around 12:15 a.m. on Saturday.

“(The) quickness that we were alerted of the fire, the ability to get here as quickly as we did and get the water onto it…just a few more seconds and it would have been completely different,” said Platoon Chief Dennis Dollemont of Moncton Fire Department.

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All tenants have been forced out due to smoke or water damage and power being disconnected to the entire three-storey structure.

The building’s owner says most of the tenants were students.

“Unfortunately there’s one tenant we talked to. They’re law students and they’re going through exams, so for them, this is really a hardship time. Fortunate, they were on the good side of the building, so all their belongings are safe, but they’ll be displaced for a period of time because of the current investigation of the fire,” said Mathieu Leger, rent Moncton Owner.

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But he says while the bigger rental companies require tenants insurance, it’s strongly recommended for their tenants, leaving an important message moving forwards.

“Only three out of 16 people have tenants insurance so not only for belongings, we have no vacancy in the area, so it’s the ‘finding a place to stay’ and they will have no help for that,” said Leger.

Canadian Red Cross said volunteers arranged emergency lodging and food for 14 adults. Several other tenants made their own arrangements, such as staying with relatives or friends.

No one was injured in the fire.

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