Apartment building catches fire in Regina
Stephanie Taylor | CBC News | Posted: July 2, 2017 10:32 PM | Last Updated: July 3, 2017
Neighbours say they heard loud bangs coming from the basement
Firefighters in Regina were called to a basement fire at an three-storey apartment in the Cathedral area of the city on Sunday.
Crews responded to the scene of the fire at 2175 Robinson St. at about 4 p.m.
Multiple neighbours told CBC News they heard loud bangs, similar to the sound of fireworks, and saw black smoke billowing out of the apartment's basement windows.
Monica Ibis lives in a second story suite and was talking on the phone with a friend from B.C. when she heard the fire alarm.
At first she said tenants weren't taking it seriously, then someone shouted there was a fire in the building.
"I went downstairs and then [in the] front entrance there was tons of smoke," she said.
Ibis said she exited the building out the back and that's when someone called 911.
"While we were waiting, me and a guy ran upstairs, I went on the second floor, 'cause people were still in the building and then there was flames shooting out down in the basement."
"I feel OK, but frustrated just that I might lose my building."
As of 4:50 p.m., police on scene were unable to comment on the cause of the blaze. Numerous residents, some wearing slippers, and others barefoot, were told they had to wait until a fire inspector arrived in order to determine if—and even when—they would be allowed to re-enter.
No injuries were reported. The building is home to around 24 tenants.
Danielle Fontaine, who also lives on the second floor, said she and her boyfriend — who actually moved into the building that day — were napping when she heard a few explosions. She grabbed the keys and left, looking out the window and also noticed black smoke.
Fonatine said she's lived in the building for about a year and nothing like this has happened before.
Donna Prosofski lives in an apartment building across the street and said at first, she thought the bangs she heard were fireworks.
"I thought well, it's kinda odd, fireworks this time of day. I got up and I looked out my bedroom window 'cause I was reading a book and I saw black smoke come billowing out the front door."
According to online rental listings, the three storey apartment building is managed by 3J Holdings.