Residents of a 20-unit apartment complex on Burton Avenue in Greater Sudbury were evacuated early Monday after a fire ripped through multiple units.
Firefighters were called to the structural fire at about 2:30 a.m., Greater Sudbury deputy fire chief Nathan Melin told CTV News in a short message.
“All occupants of the building evacuated safely,” he said.
“No injuries.”
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Melin said the building is not structurally comprised but sustained heavy smoke damage to a number of units.
“All building occupants have been displaced but 11 require temporary accommodations being set up through Red Cross,” he said.
Fire crews cleared the scene before 8:30 a.m.
Fire officials stated the conditions surrounding the fire were suspicious and as a result the Greater Sudbury Police Service (GSPS) and the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshall have been requested to attend.
“GSPS and OFM will be conducting fire investigation today,” said Melin.
GSPS are on scene and police officials confirmed with CTV News by phone that they are investigating the fire incident.
Several residents, who did not want to be named, said they believed drugs may have been involved in the incident.
Police have not said if any charges have been laid as a result of the incident.
One resident, Amanda Goudreau, told CTV News that she believes the fire was deliberately set in anger by another resident.
“I don’t have anything on me,” she said.
“No … nothing… my home is a crime scene.”
Residents added that all family pets were also out of the building safely.
In an email to CTVNewsNorthernOntario.ca, Greater Sudbury communications officer Kelly Brooks said there is no timeline at this time for when the displaced residents will be able to return to their units.
“Occupants of the second and third floors are hoped to be returned as soon as possible, once all fire and life safety systems in the building are restored,” she said.
“Occupants of the four units on the first floor will not be able to return to their units today due to heavy smoke damage.”
The city-owned Greater Sudbury Housing Corporation operates the three-storey property on Burton Avenue located between the Flour Mill and Frood Road.
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A city transit bus was brought to the site to provide temporary shelter to 11 displaced occupants before they were transported to the nearby Balmoral Apartment Complex on Bruce Avenue shortly after 8 a.m.
“Tenants have been temporarily moved to the common room at another housing facility,” said Brooks.
“They have washroom access etc., and refreshments have been provided.”
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City officials are still working with the Red Cross to provide accommodations for the displaced individuals.
CTV News has requested more information from the Red Cross on their efforts but has not yet received a response.
(Additional photos can be found in the gallery below.)
