Residents of arson-hit Brantford apartment building unsure where to turn

An apartment building on Helen Avenue in Brantford, Ont., is seen on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013.

Families whose apartments were destroyed by a deliberately set fire last week say they don’t want to return to their building.

Early last Friday morning, fire officials found smoke pouring out of the Helen Avenue building.

The apartments were evacuated, but in some cases firefighters had to use ladders to reach residents trapped on their balconies, while 12 people were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation.

A total of 13 apartments were left uninhabitable by the fire, which residents say is just the latest in a string of arsons in the area.

“It’s gotten worse and worse and worse. The guy’s gotten braver and braver,” says Scott Dean, who lived in one of the affected units with his girlfriend and three kids.

Timber Creek Communities, which operates the building, has been paying for hotel rooms for affected tenants since the fire.

Those hotel stays will end next week, with the company offering new apartments on Helen Avenue or in the downtown Centennial Towers buildings.

“We don’t know where we’re going as of Friday,” says tenant Eileen Tirone.

Many tenants, including Tirone, say they can’t afford the higher rents at Centennial Towers and are scared to return to the Helen Avenue area as long as the arsons remain unsolved.

“They haven’t done anything to guarantee our safety,” says Dean.

Timber Creek says residents who don’t want to stay in either area will be refunded their last month’s rent.

“We really do feel bad for our tenants, for what they had to go through,” says Timber Creek regional manager Daniela Marin.

The fire is being investigated as arson, but at this point officials have not identified any suspects.

Repairs to the fifth floor are expected to be complete by early September.