Donations are pouring in to help residents of a Charlottetown apartment building, many of whom lost everything in a fatal fire over the weekend.
One tenant died after fire began at the Prince Street apartment building Sunday afternoon.
Witnesses say the flames, which started in the rear of the building, were huge.
“The flames were so high and so hot that it was scary, that's about all I can tell you. That's all I seen, was fire,” said witness Darren Costain.
Nineteen people were evacuated from the apartments and a neighbouring building, some of whom are now homeless.
Lloyd MacDonald was sleeping in his girlfriend’s apartment when she woke him up to the fire.
“She lost everything she owned. Everybody in this building lost everything they owned and a gentleman in the bottom, he lost his mother,” MacDonald said.
Fire officials say there were no sprinklers in the building, though that’s not uncommon for a residential building.
Officials say the building had some fire alarms, but can’t confirm whether they were in working order.
Charlottetown Deputy Fire Chief Tim Mamye said the age of the building hindered the firefighting effort.
“There's been many additions or alterations done to the building through the years, a story added here I believe at one point, plus all the apartments used to be homes, became apartments, so you have a lot more separation and I guess walls in the way when you are inside the building,” Mamye said.
Some of the tenants have been provided emergency shelter and clothing.
More help is coming thanks to Taylor Rush, who set up a Facebook page to help coordinate donations with the Red Cross and others.
“Overwhelming,” Rush said. “There has been a lot of people interested in helping, asking me questions where they can go how they can help.”
The identity of the tenant who died has not been released, pending notification of next-of-kin.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s David Bell
