A suspicious fire on New Year's Day has put at least 25 people out of their homes to start 2012.
Just after 8 p.m. a fire broke out in a ground floor storage locker in the three-storey Meadowbrook Apartments on 1st Avenue near Ospika Boulevard. Crews from three fire halls responded to the alarm, finding heavy smoke throughout the building.
"The evacuees are still out of their homes," said Prince George Fire Chief John Lane in and email exchange Monday. "The hallways and any affected units must be cleaned of smoke, and any doors that were breached during the
initial search must be repaired."
Lane said because of the long weekend and the fact many people find alternate accommodations on their own it's difficult to get an exact number of people affected by the blaze.
Significant damage was done to the storage area and ground floor and there's smoke damage throughout the building. The apartment directly above the storage locker sustained a small amount of fire damage.
The evacuees were treated on the scene for smoke inhalation by BC Ambulance paramedics, with seven people transported to University Hospital of Northern British Columbia for further assessment and treatment. A fourth fire crew was on scene to help with the
evacuation.
Evacuees were given shelter in a BC Transit bus before being taken to the City Hall Annex to register at the reception centre as the City of Prince George's Evacuation Support Program was activated. Several tenants found their own accommodations, while others are being housed in city motels or hotels.
Investigators from the Prince George Fire Rescue and the RCMP spent Monday on the scene trying to determine the cause of the fire.
Lane said he expects to issue an update on the investigation today.
It wasn't the only holiday
weekend blaze:
Willow River fire
A structure fire kept the volunteer firefighters in Willow River busy before 6 p.m. Monday. Details as to the cause and amount of damage were unavailable as the Fraser Fort George Regional District office was closed for the holiday.
Trailer park fire
A nasty surprise awaited occupants of a trailer in the 2600 Block of Gunn Rd. when they arrived home after 10 p.m. on Jan. 1.
The residents discovered the fire when they arrived home and called 911. Three fire halls and 17 firefighters responded to the call. When fire crews arrived the trailer was engulfed in flames and a neighbouring home was also being threatened.
One of the occupants of the trailer suffered minor burns and some smoke inhalation when they attempted to enter the building and was treated at the scene by BC Ambulance personnel and released.
No other injuries were reported, but the trailer was a total loss with the property loss estimated at $60,000. The fire is not considered suspicious, but fire investigators will be on scene today to determine the cause.
