Fire guts apartment building in Prince George, displaces at least 60 residents
2 people taken to hospital, crews still fighting hot spots as of 9:45 a.m.
A large apartment fire near D.P. Todd Secondary School in Prince George, B.C., has displaced at least 60 people.
The blaze broke out shortly before 6 a.m. PT Thursday and quickly engulfed the top floor of the three-storey building, sending a thick plume of black smoke into the sky as the apartment's roof collapsed and portions of the structure fell to the ground in the residential Heritage neighbourhood near 5th Avenue.
Resident Deb Townsend said she and other residents simply ran out with "what they had on their backs."
"Shoes, coats, that was it," she said.
Assistant fire chief Brian Valentine said they were called to the scene at about 5:40 a.m. and had evacuated roughly 50 people. The city later confirmed no one was left inside and said about 60 people had been displaced and accessed emergency supports.
Damage to the building could be seen from the front and back early Thursday as volunteers distributed coffee to people impacted and some neighbours put sprinklers on their roofs in an effort to protect their homes. Later in the day, entire walls of the building were gone.
In a statement, the city said 24 out of the building's 57 units had either fire, smoke or water damage.
At least six fire trucks responded, as well as ambulances. Emergency Health Services said they received a call at 5:45 a.m. and two patients were taken to hospital in stable condition. In an afternoon update, the city said both people had been released.
Officials said it's too early to speculate on a possible cause.
Townsend said it was a difficult day but expressed her thanks to first responders and volunteers who are offering their support.
"They're amazing," she said.
With files from Emma Jean