Advertisement

'Are we still safe here?' Tenants begin to return home after highrise fire

Many tenants of an Ottawa Community Housing building say they're relieved to be back in their apartments after a fire earlier this week — but for some, there's a lingering sense of worry.

Around 230 residents were displaced after the 22-storey highrise at 251 Donald St., just east of the Vanier Parkway, caught fire shortly after 5 a.m. Wednesday morning.

People living on and above the fifth floor were finally able to return on Saturday, according to an OCH update, after a technical inspection was completed and the heat and electricity were turned back on.

'There's still a bit of doubt in the back of our minds — are we still safe here?' - Jackie Desormeaux, resident

Jackie Desormeaux, who lives on the seventh floor, said while it's a relief to be home, there's some anxiety as well.

"We're uneasy," she said. "We're happy to be home in our own surroundings, but there's still a bit of doubt in the back of our minds — are we still safe here?"

Marie-Therese Murerangondo lives on the 21st floor and said she shares the same feelings.

"We were traumatised by what happened," she said. "We are happy to come home, but hopefully it's not going to happen again."

Yasmine Mehdi/Radio-Canada
Yasmine Mehdi/Radio-Canada

Many still displaced

Residents living on the second, third and fourth floors aren't yet able to return, according to OCH. Around 30 units on those floors were severely damaged by flames, smoke and water.

Riad Sarkis, who has medical needs and mobility issues, said officials have told him he may be out of his third-floor apartment for as long as three months.

"[I'll be] staying in a hotel," he said. "But whenever I have the chance to go out, I'm going to do that. Staying in the room is depressing."

Leah Hansen/CBC
Leah Hansen/CBC

Rideau-Vanier Coun. Mathieu Fleury, chair of the Ottawa Community Housing board, said the agency is looking for vacancies in its nearby properties for some of the displaced residents.

"We are the largest landlord in the city, which is positive in the sense that at any given time, there's 10 per cent turnover of our units," he said. "So we're looking at vacancies in and around Donald Street ... and seeing how we can accommodate folks."

Fire started in electrical room

Fire officials finished their investigation on Thursday, making way for around 70 contractors to start repair work, according to the housing agency.

Investigators believe the fire started in the building's electrical system in a second-floor common area.

After they arrived on the scene Wednesday morning, firefighters twice had to call for backup. They rescued some people off their balconies using ladders.

Raphael Tremblay/Radio-Canada
Raphael Tremblay/Radio-Canada

Around 25 people were treated for smoke inhalation at the scene. Eight were taken to hospital, including an Ottawa police officer who had been helping people escape.

Ray Guay, who lives on the 12th floor, said the smoke was so thick that by the time he'd descended the stairs and was outside the building, his white beard was black with soot.

Despite the experience, Guay said he has no misgivings.

"If it's electrical, that could happen in any building, any place, any time," he said. "I'm not worried at all. They know what they're doing."