More than 40 people are homeless after fire ripped through an apartment building in downtown Amherst last night.
Fire crews were called to the Victoria Arms apartment building around 10 p.m. Sunday. Firefighters spent Monday battling smoke and pouring thousands of litres of water on the 29-unit, four-storey building.
Roughly 40 adults and young children were living in the building. Most of the tenants flew out the door with just the clothes on their back.
“Smoke detector things were going off,” says resident Kim Murray. “We just though it was a joke or a prank and then we went into the old side of the building and it filled up with smoke and that’s when we got out.”
“I watched the windows being literally blown out of my house and what not like that, so it was actually very scary,” says resident Carol Ann Villeneuve.
“I panicked,” says resident Betty Shubert. “My son got sick. He was vomiting outside when it first initially happened, but we all walked away and that’s what matters.”
One person was treated for mild smoke inhalation. Fire officials say two firefighters suffered minor injuries overnight.
“The building was fully equipped with smoke detectors, alarm system and sprinklers and we believe that contributed greatly to the safety of the people residing there,” says Cpt. John Matthews of the Amherst Fire Department.
Much of the downtown was closed Monday due to lingering smoke, traffic detours and a drop in the town’s water pressure.
The police station next to the building and all its equipment and operations have been moved to the town fire hall.
Officials believe the fire started in the basement, however, investigators won’t know the cause until the structure is taken down and they can get inside.
Meanwhile, the building’s landlord plans to meet with displaced tenants Tuesday at noon to discuss rent refunds and other support options.
The Canadian Red Cross and Salvation Army are accepting donations for the victims.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Dan MacIntosh
