The cause of the fifth floor fire at the Victoria Towers complex is undetermined and may never be known. Foul play is not a primary consideration, however, according to the Prince George Fire Department.
"The damage to the source apartment was severe," said Chief John Lane of the Prince George Fire Rescue Service. "It destroyed everything flammable inside that apartment and will be very difficult to determine a cause. It was hard to even pinpoint a point of origin."
There were occupants inside the apartment at the time. They got out without serious injury.
All in the 12-story apartment building have been accounted for, said Lane, but it took breaking some doors down to make sure that. This damage will take a few days to repair.
Lane added that the fire was confined to the one apartment, with very limited flame damage to the balcony above. The sixth floor sustained minor smoke damage and the fourth floor sustained some limited water damage. The elevator was also damaged in the incident.
"The fifth floor is black from end to end," he said. "Many of those rooms were under renovation, only a couple of rooms were occupied. The vast majority of suites [throughout the tower] are inhabitable."
For the few who cannot return to their apartment by the end of today, the provincial emergency social services program provides short-term (three days) accommodation, food and clothing rations. Other social agencies are already at the ready in case a longer duration is required.
