St. George, N.B., apartment fire displaces residents, local food bank

A fire in St. George, N.B., displaced 22 people on Sunday.

Around 22 people are displaced following an apartment fire in St. George, N.B., Sunday morning.

Eastern Charlotte Fire Chief Justin Johnston says the call came in just before 8 a.m., with a caller reporting a fire on the second floor of the three-floor, 22-unit seniors complex along Main Street. The building is owned by Atlantic Baptist Housing.

Crews arrived on scene to heavy smoke emitting from the building and began an immediate offensive attack. Eastern Charlotte Fire and Rescue led the firefighting efforts, with aid from the Saint Andrews, Musquash, and Deer Lake fire departments.

In total, five engines and two ladder trucks worked together to bring down the blaze.

“With the cold you got to keep the water going,” says Johnston on the challenges the fire presented. “We did get confirmation that all residents were out (prior to our arrival), which I was glad to hear because with a major, big unit like that, especially with the seniors complex, makes it a little difficult due to mobility issues.”

Johnston confirmed that one resident was sent to hospital due to smoke inhalation and a firefighter was transported with fatigue. Both have since been cleared and released.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

While on the outside the building appears to have sustained only minor damage, firefighters say the damage inside is extensive.

The Canadian Red Cross is supporting 22 people impacted by the fire, by providing food and clothing, as well as emergency accommodations for those who require it.

Eastern Charlotte Mayor John Craig says the majority of displaced residents are staying with family in the interim, while three to four people have been put up in local hotels by Red Cross.

He also says, in the 24 hours following the fire, the community has been stepping up in any way possible to support those affected.

“Everyone was calling and saying, ‘What can we do to help?’” says Craig. “My phone never stopped ringing.”

Not only were the calls to help the displaced residents, but also to help the St. George and Area Food Bank, which is in the same building. The food bank routinely supports around 125 families and 350 people in the community.

Tony Munn, the food bank’s chair, says as much as $75,000 worth of food was lost in the fire.

“A big percentage of our food comes in from October to Christmas, then you have to wait until Easter,” says Munn on when people tend to make donations to the food bank.

“I would say 60 to 70 per cent of our food donations come in that period.”

Munn says a food drive will be held this weekend, but residents have been dropping off food and cash donations at the Masonic Lodge, which has offered their basement space for the food bank’s operations in the interim.

While many people tend to tighten their wallets after an expensive holiday season, Munn says they have been overwhelmed with donations from the greater community.

“This morning, as an example, we had I think 11 to 15 clients went over to the grocery store to get food for the food bank,” says Munn. “The manger of the grocery store (didn’t charge us) said, ‘Here it’s yours.’”

Munn says there was also a program offered out of the building that helped 33 clients with mental and physical disabilities learn life and employment skills. He says there will be no change in programming, outside of not being in their regular building.

“The only good thing about this is that the community has come together on this,” says Craig. “That’s what I am very happy to see.”

A number of various fundraising events, including the Eastern Charlotte Community Kitchen Inc.’s 50/50 draw, are in place to help both the non-profits and residents displaced by the fire.

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