New Waterford apartment building fire sends man to hospital
15 people are temporarily homeless after an apartment building burned early Saturday morning
A man is in hospital after jumping from the second storey of a burning New Waterford apartment building early Saturday morning, the Canadian Red Cross says.
The man, who is in his 50s, suffered smoke inhalation, cuts and leg injuries, including possible fractures, spokesman Dan Bedell said in a press release.
A fire gutted the two storey, 11-unit apartment building on Plummer Avenue putting 15 people out of their homes, he said.
Neighbour knocked on doors
Some got out thanks to one neighbour, said Jason Noseworthy, disaster management associate with the Red Cross.
"She was going around knocking on doors and trying to get everybody out," he said.
"If it wasn't for her doing what she did some people may not have been alerted. She did a great job today."
Eleven people are now in lodging provided by the Red Cross, Noseworthy said.
Building a complete loss
Cape Breton Regional Police and multiple volunteer fire departments responded to the call, which came in around 5 a.m. Saturday.
Firefighters from Scotchtown, Glace Bay and New Victoria came to help, New Waterford Fire Chief Lenny Barrington said Saturday afternoon.
He said 13 tenants were already outside the building by the time they arrived. The wooden building is a complete loss, he said.
Other homes evacuated, street closed
Around 30 firefighters worked to contain the fire from spreading, using three-pumpers, an aerial truck and nearby hydrants, he said. The team only returned to the fire hall around 2:30 p.m.
Firefighters were slowed down by the cold, icy conditions, Barrington said, and he's glad no one was hurt.
Police said earlier several homes in the area were evacuated because of the heat and smoke coming from the blaze.
Plummer Avenue near Smith Street is expected to be closed to traffic for most of the day.
'It happened so fast'
The Canadian Red Cross has provided emergency lodging, food and clothing, among other items, for the tenants. A couple and two children were out of town for the weekend and the Red Cross says it will help them as well.
"Essentially all they had was just the clothing on their back," Noseworthy said.
"It happened so fast."
Two dogs and a cat also got out, he said.
The fire marshal is still investigating the cause of the fire.
With files from Elizabeth Chiu