More than 50 displaced after fire in Nanaimo supportive housing

More than 50 people from a supportive housing complex in Nanaimo, B.C., were displaced Sunday after a fire in a mattress that was started by a lit cigarette.

Troy Libbus, Nanaimo Fire Rescue's assistant chief, said their crew responded to an alarm at Samaritan Place, a supportive-housing complex with 51 units. 

He said no one was hurt, as firefighters were able to fight the blaze and evacuate residents at the same time, thanks to the building's sprinkler system that helped suppress the fire.

Libbus said a resident of the building later admitted to police that they were smoking in their room, and the mattress caught fire.

Corrie Corfield with the Island Crisis Care Society, which operates the complex, said services in the building were back up on Monday, and some residents were able to return to their units on the fourth floor, which was not damaged by fire or water.

Corfield said they have found temporary housing for most of the remaining residents who were forced out, including placing 10 people in a motel who have mobility or health issues.

"So, that's one of the challenges in this whole situation, is a lot of the people who rely on that building and who live there have significant health challenges, and maybe seniors, or [they] may be coping with all sorts of health situations," said Corfield.

She said they had to bring in food and clothing for residents because many left with only their pyjamas.

"It was a challenging day, but everyone really banded together and had a good attitude about things," Corfield said.

Corfield told CBC News that, in January this year, the society had to deal with the fire suppression system breaking at one of their buildings at Nanaimo's Bowen Road — leading to a flood at a time when people were using the building as a warming shelter.

She said that the flood damage meant that the society's head office remains out of commission, which has made relocating residents from the latest fire a challenge.

We've been really appreciative of the community support through this," she said. "And I mean ongoing. We've got a lot of things happening as an organization. And we always find that Nanaimo was fantastic at supporting and caring."