North End Fire Leaves Nine Homeless

(Courtesy Doug Epton)

Three adults and six children are homeless after a fire in an apartment building in the North end. 

The blaze at 37 MacLaren Boulevard was reported shortly before 6:00pm. Platoon Chief Barry Oickle of the city fire department says fire crews could see very heavy thick black smoke and fire coming out of the windows of the first floor apartment. The blaze was quickly knocked down.

The first-floor apartment was heavily damaged by smoke and fire while the apartment above it sustained minor smoke and fire damage—because of the damage, several other tenants are temporarily displaced while their apartments are cleaned and ventilated. No humans were hurt, however, four pets died in the fire.

The Canadian Red Cross is helping the victims, giving them a place to stay, food and clothing. A housing coordinator will be working with the nine people who are permanently homeless to find them alternative housing.