Early morning fire burns Radium Park Lodge in southeastern B.C.

A fire destroyed the Radium Park Lodge early Friday morning in southeastern B.C.

A massive fire burned down the Radium Park Lodge early Friday morning in southeastern B.C., forcing dozens of people out, some with only the shirts on their backs.

Fire broke out as people were sleeping.

Paramedics transported one person to Invermere Hospital as a precaution.

One Alberta woman who was visiting her partner who was staying at the lodge ahead of her trip to the U.S. for medical treatment told CTV News that the lodge had been turned into long-term accomodation to help with lack of housing in the area.

Rebecca Klassen said that meant many people who were staying there lost a lot of their belongings in the fire.

She said if it wasn’t for tenants who chose to go door-to-door to alert those who were asleep over saving their belongings, that things could have been a lot worse.

“By the time we were able to get our cats out like I said, it had started in one suite here by the time we got our cats out,” Klassen said, “it had already progressed to the next suites over, and people didn’t have an opportunity to make it out with much -- or anything -- and we’re all very lucky that the fire crew showed up very fast.”

Klassen said the lodge’s owner, the Red Cross and community members have really stepped up for the lodge residents, offering food, temporary accomodations and support.

A reception centre to help displaced guests and residents is at the Radium Hot Springs Centre.

Firefighters from the regional district of East Kootenay, Columbia Valley and Invermere assisted the Radium department.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

With files from CTV’s Camilla Di Giuseppe