More than 120 residents now displaced in wake of Chatham-Kent apartment fire

More than 100 people are out of their homes after a weekend fire at a gear-to-income apartment building in Chatham-Kent. 

Robert Francis says he was getting ready for his morning shower when the fire alarm at 99 McNaughton Ave. W. went off. He says his apartment is most likely water damaged by now, as firefighters kept pouring water on the fire. 

"It was underwater. I went in and they were putting water on the fire," he says.

He says he's currently staying at the Comfort Inn in Chatham but he knows neighbours who are in Wallaceburg or elsewhere with family.

Chatham-Kent firefighters say they responded at 5:55 a.m. to a report of a fire at the address — a geared-to-income residential structure with 120 units. Two fire stations and multiple fire trucks responded. 

According to Chatham-Kent Fire and Rescue, all residents needed to exit the building while firefighters worked.

The fire was considered under control by 11 a.m.

Some of the tenants suffered minor smoke inhalation and were treated on the scene.

Eric Labadie is the manager of corporate communications with the Municipality of Chatham-Kent. He says all residents of the 120 units are temporarily displaced.

"Of those 120 units, 90 are directly affected with 10 being very much affected by the fire," he said. "In terms of residents, we have 126 that have been temporarily displaced," he said. 

'In just their housecoats'

John Killoran is a pastor at the Emmanuel Baptist Church across the street from the affected housing complex. He told CBC News that he found out about the fire from smelling the smoke.

"We have quite a few people at the church who are involved with community services and stuff. And one of them had mentioned there was a fire," he said. "As I was walking to church, it started raining and it was like you could smell the smoke." 

He says he approached a firefighter who was at the scene and offered shelter for the evacuees.

"I just went up to a fireman and said, 'Hey, we've got a gym here. Can we help you guys out?'"

He says the evacuated residents stayed at the church for the entire morning and afternoon and he even housed a resident overnight.

Describing the evacuation process, Killoran says most of the residents didn't have time to grab much, leaving in just their housecoats with their pets.

After chatting with a few of the evacuated residents, Killoran says some were concerned about getting access to medications and clothing.

"There is definitely a mixture ... Other people were just thankful to have a place that was dry. They were thankful to have a bit of breakfast and lunch."

Keeping pets safe

Myriam Armstrong is the executive director at Pet and Wildlife Rescue in Chatham. She says that as soon as the charity received a call notifying them of the fire, their animal control officer quickly made his way to the scene.

"He spent pretty much his entire day picking up animals, bringing them to the shelter and trying to locate owners. And then it was a lot of supplying food and litter to the different people that were displaced throughout the day."

She says Pet and Wildlife Rescue has already rescued 20 animals, with more on the way. She also says the charity has already returned seven pets to their owners.

"[It's mostly] cats and dogs. And we also have a few bunnies and budgies," says Armstrong. Budgies are also known as the common parakeet. 

Armstrong says that although the shelter has enough space for people's displaced pets, it's not the best environment to house an animal in the long term. 

"Ideally, we want to return them to the owners as quickly as possible," she said.

"Some of these people only have landlines, so trying to get a hold of everybody is difficult," she says. "We're trying to put it out there on social media that if you're missing a pet from this address, give us a call. We'll go look to see if we can match the description with [one of our] pets and provide supplies like cat food, dog food and litter boxes." 

'I've got my life'

Despite losing his home, Francis is staying optimistic. 

"I got my life and my main concern is my other family members that are on oxygen. I can build and redo and go where I can because I'm still 55 years young."

The fire is currently under investigation by Chatham-Kent Fire and Rescue and the Ontario Fire Marshal's office.

The municipality's housing officials have been notified of the incident.