One person unaccounted for after fire breaks out at Colborne seniors’ home

One person remains unaccounted for after a fire broke out at a Colborne, Ont., seniors' apartment complex. (CTV News Toronto)

One person remains unaccounted for after a fire broke out early morning at a seniors apartment complex in Colborne, Ont., officials say.

Northumberland County issued a news release on Friday, saying the fire broke out at a Northumberland County Housing Corporation (NCHC) apartment complex located at 8 King Street West.

The county said first responders were dispatched shortly after 4:10 a.m. and they quickly evacuated the building. County officials have been on scene since the early hours, working alongside emergency responders to ensure tenant safety and provide immediate support, the county stated.

One tenant remains unaccounted for and four people have been taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, including three firefighters and one tenant, the county said.

“On behalf of the board of the Northumberland County Housing Corporation, I want to convey that our thoughts are with the family and friends of the individual yet unaccounted for as they wait for news of their loved one,” Cathy Borowec, the board chair of Northumberland County Housing Corporation, said.

“I also wish to express our heartfelt condolences to the many tenants who have lost their homes, and to all those affected by this tragic incident.”

The Ontario Provincial Police are asking that residents please avoid this area while emergency services work to extinguish the fire and ensure safety. The country stated that roads in the immediate vicinity of the fire remain closed to support emergency operations. All other roads, including all county roads, remain open.

“My thoughts go out to the community of Colborne as they face the devastating effects of the fire at the Northumberland County Housing Corporation,” Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland said.

“Unfortunately, today’s fires will have lasting effects on this community, and we must therefore continue to support our municipal partners to ensure these residents get the support they require.”

Approximately 20 people have been displaced as a result of the fire and social services staff are working with tenants to identify alternative accommodation options, the county said.

The county’s social services team has activated its emergency response and opened the Keeler Centre in Colborne as an evacuation centre. Approximately 15 people are using the evacuation centre, along with seven pet dogs and cats, the county said.