Some Burford-area seniors are adjusting to new living arrangements following a late-night fire on Saturday.
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At around 11 pm on Jan. 13, emergency services responded to a structure fire on Park Avenue, according to a media release from the OPP.
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Two residents who were hospitalized as a result of the fire have since been released, Maria Visocchi, a spokesperson for the City of Brantford told The Spectator.
“We are grateful to share that all residents are fine,” she added.
The OPP said that the fire is not deemed suspicious at this time, however, residents have been unable to return to their units, which are in varying conditions.
Known as Sunrise Villa, the building is managed by the City of Brantford — which also oversees housing services for the County of Brant — and has 12 rent-geared-to-income units for seniors and a common room.
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Visocchi said housing staff are in the process of meeting with structural engineers and insurance adjusters to determine the extent of the damage.
In the meantime, staff are working with tenants “to ensure that they have somewhere to live in the interim — either with family/friends or in an alternative city-owned unit,” Visocchi said.
At this point, they are unsure when — or if — tenants can return to their homes.
“If the assessment concludes that only structural repairs are required, we expect residents will be able to move back once restoration is complete,” Visocchi told The Spectator.
“If the building or a portion of it requires demolition, we will have to determine what additional work is required and how this would impact residents,” she added.
As some of the residents are now without essentials, those who can help are invited to drop off unneeded housewares — such as small appliances, curtains, and pots and pans — at 177 Colborne St. W. on Jan. 19 between the hours of noon and 3 p.m.
Celeste Percy-Beauregard is a Local Journalism Initiative Reporter based at the Hamilton Spectator. The initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
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