Fire forces more than 100 tenants from Westphal building
Posted Jun 4, 2010 05:25:06 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
More than 100 people have been forced from their homes by an apartment building fire in Westphal.
The fire broke out on the second storey of the 73-unit Roleika Drive building around 7:45 thursday night.
No one was allowed back into the building, forcing tenants to spend the night with family, friends, or in a Red Cross shelter at the Dartmouth East Community Centre.
“Some of the apartments were damaged and there’s smoke and water damage, and the electricty was cut,” said Red Cross spokesman Dan Bedell. “So nobody was allowed back in teh building at least for one night. Whether that will continue today, we’re not sure.”
He says he’s hoping to hear from fire officials today about if and when residents might be allowed to return home, even if it’s to retreive clothes or medications.
Halifax Fire Acting Platoon Chief Pat Keating says fire crews were greeted with heavy fire on the second floor that extended up to the third floor. The flames were out by 9:30 p.m.
Keating says a fire investigator will be back on scene today to assess the cause of the fire and the extensive damage.
“Hopefully, by late in the day, if we’ve concluded our investigation, we’ll be able to give the tenants information as to whether they’ll be able to return to the building,” he said.
Keating says the damage to the building is so extensive, he doesn’t think anyone will be able to move back in today.
There’s no word yet on a possible cause.
