Displaced Westcourt Place residents arrive at WFCU Centre following fire

Westcourt Place residents displaced by a now-extinguished building fire arrived at Windsor's WFCU Centre Tuesday evening.

More than 200 residents of the downtown Windsor highrise were told earlier Tuesday by officials to evacuate the building after a fire in the parking garage left the building without power, heat and water.

Three civilians and two firefighters were taken to hospital for non-life threatening injuries caused by smoke inhalation related to the fire that broke out on Tuesday morning. It was extinguished around 11 a.m.

According to a statement from the City of Windsor, the city and the Canadian Red Cross have set up a "temporary reception centre" to provide food and shelter for the approximately 45 residents of Westcourt Place, located at Goyeau Street and Chatham Street.

Westcourt Place resident Chris Baillargeon described the day as "busy."

"I work during the day [and] the incident was happening just before work," he said. "Smoke was going out of the building. [There] was running water, but no power."

Baillargeon was eventually forced to come to the WFCU Centre once his building was evacuated.

Jelena Payne, the City of Windsor's community development and health services commissioner, said she was told approximately 160 apartment units were evacuated.

She estimated that approximately 40 to 50 Westcourt Place residents are expected to spend the night at the WFCU Centre, adding that it's not clear when residents will be allowed to return to their homes.

"At this point, we're just looking for further direction from our fire department and the police department, and then, of course, the owners and the manager of the building," Payne said.

This isn't the first time the city has been required to stage a building evacuation, according to Payne.

"But I don't think we've had to do one in almost a decade," she said.

Westcourt residents were asked to go to 400 City Hall Square W. to register for assistance, before being transported by transit bus to the WFCU Centre.

Windsor Fire Deputy Chief Andrea DeJong said Windsor police, EMS and fire services went door-to-door in Westcourt Place to gather residents after the evacuation order was issued.

"It's a mandatory evacuation that was ordered by the health unit," DeJong said. "People like to stay in their own homes and they feel that they're willing to tough it out in some cases. But in this case, they don't have an option. It is mandatory."

It's not clear when residents will be allowed back into the building, DeJong said.

"The biggest problem is the power and the cold," she said, adding that Enwin is currently investigating to determine whether the issue has to do with the building's equipment or wiring.

"That's really what's going to drive the reopening date of the building itself."

'Very smooth' evacuation, says resident

Westcourt residents Don and Lorraine Purvis said they were told to leave the building on Tuesday evening. Lorraine described the process as "very smooth, very organized."

"As far as safety codes, I had no problems getting out of the building, even with my walker," she said.

Once the couple was safely outside, Lorraine said the situation became a "waiting game." But she said that the mood among residents is relatively calm.

"Nobody's angry, nobody's yelling, nobody's upset," she said. "They have firemen that are running up to your apartment, gathering what you need and bringing it back down to you. They're spot on."

Lorraine said she and her husband won't be spending the evening at the WFCU Centre, and will instead take advantage of a free night's stay at Caesars Windsor.

Humane society offering aid to pets

Among the group of residents displaced by the fire are approximately nine pets, according to Windsor-Essex County Humane Society executive director Melanie Coulter.

She said the humane society is on hand to provide supplies, including crates, food, litter and bedding.

"Animals are going to be accommodated at the same location as their owners," Coulter said. "So we've got supplies to make sure they're safe and confined … overnight."

The humane society has enough supplies for approximately 20 animals.

"If we need more, we'll bring more," said Coulter.