Jack Beeksma was watching the news on TV at about 5:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 22 when he heard the fire alarm.
He thought it was a prank until someone yelled out a warning for everyone to get out of the building. After opening his door and seeing smoke billowing in the hallway, he woke up his wife, Mary and grabbed his cell phone before they left their ground-floor apartment.
Firefighters were on the scene in minutes and everybody exited the building safely but by that time the fire was out of control. Residents gathered across the street and watched the horrific fire scene unfold, some knowing they’ve lost all their possessions.
“I guess that’s the silver lining, that finally the residents had a chance to actually meet each other and get to know each other a little bit,” said the 71-year-old Jack Beeksma.
“We saw so much evidence of that sense of community — all of a sudden people had muffins and donuts and coffee available to them. The people across the road brought out chairs for the elderly people who could not stand and people will helping other push wheelchairs out of the building and everybody fortunately got out.”
The elevators were working until the electricity was cut by BC Hydro and people with mobility challenges used the lifts to exit the building.Firefighters pounded on doors to make sure people knew the emergency was for real and everybody left the building and was accounted for without injury.
“(The evacuation) was very well co-ordinated, I was very impressed,” said Jack.
The fire burned for four hours Thursday until firefighters were able to knock down the flames and they remained on the scene most of the day putting out hot spots. It’s estimated that 24 of the 57 units have suffered fire, smoke or water damage and about 100 residents have been displaced.
Some of the vehicles parked in the basement-level garage that run the length of the building have been destroyed, either burnt in the fire or crushed by falling debris. An engineer who examined the fire damage has strictly forbidden access to that part of the complex.
“Because there’s been so much structural damage in the ceiling above the garage it’s not safe to go in to get those vehicles,” said Jack, among several residents who utilized a valet service to have his car moved out of the complex Friday evening.
Owners of vehicles in the immediate vicinity of the fire are being advised to file claims with ICBC as soon as possible.
The Beeksmas know their apartment suffered flooding from fire hoses and likely has smoke damage but is otherwise intact. They went back to the complex on Friday and had a firefighter go into their apartment to grab Jack’s laptop and Mary’s eyeglasses and purse, which was soaked with water on the bottom.
They just bought a new fridge/freezer and they’re hoping it won’t be ruined by spoiled food, if and when the power gets turned on again.
They know they won’t be returning to their home anytime soon. After staying in a bed and breakfast for three nights they’ll be moving in today with their daughter and her family in the city. But not everybody has a family member to lean on and some will have to stay in hotel rooms indefinitely.
“I feel bad for the people whose places are destroyed,” said Mary. “I’d say at least a third of them and maybe more, at least 20 units, are destroyed.”
According to the Beeksmas, most of the residents are either seniors or young couples. There aren’t many children living there.
Most of the occupants have registered with the City of Prince George’s Emergency Support Services, either in person at the wildfire evacuee complex near the Kin Centre or they’ve made contact by phone at 236-607-9325.
“Initially it was for three days they would provide money for accommodation, clothing and incidentals and we just got a phone call (Tuesday) that they’ve extended it for five days,” said Mary.
The residents will gather at nearby church on Thursday, May 29 to meet with management staff and insurance adjustors for what was originally intended to be the Boardwalk Apartments' annual general meeting.
Investigators have not yet determined what caused the fire. An update emailed to residents by Courtney Steinbach Property Management said it has been confirmed the fire was not caused by electrical or building malfunction, or from a barbecue, careless smoking or drug activity.
In the letter, Steinbach said the building is now under the control of the insurance company and it’s too early to tell when residents of intact units will be allowed back in. That won’t happen until common hallways and entrances have been thoroughly cleaned and made safe again.
A GoFundMe fundraising drive to help Boardwalk residents has been set up by Lucas Boreland, owner of Armoured Electrical and Fire Safety Ltd., who remembers who unsettling it was for him as a young boy when his family home in Salmon Valley was destroyed in a fire. As of Wednesday morning the campaign had raised $3,610 of its $60,000 goal.
