Will take months to repair fire-damaged housing complex; emergency evacuation center set up

An emergency evacuation center is being established to serve the 99 residents displaced by a massive fire at a municipal-owned Chatham housing complex, which will take months to repair.

Article content

The Municipality of Chatham-Kent issued a media release Friday afternoon to provide an update on the fire at 99 McNaughton Ave. W. that happened Sunday, Aug. 25 just before 6 am Chatham-Kent police announced Friday morning a 30-year-old Chatham woman has been charged with arrest with disregard for human life.

The ongoing investigations has resulted in an order that the 120-unit apartment building cannot be occupied until it is made safe through remediation and repair, said municipal officials.

“At present, it is estimated that getting residents back into the building will take at least several months, with an exact timeline remaining uncertain until the investigative work is completed to determine the scope of work required for each section of the building to be safe and compliant for occupancy of residents,” said municipal officials.

Article content

The building has no power and significant work is required to repair safety systems such as fire alarms and hot water.

“There has been severe fire damage to the mechanical room, as well as some parts of the building, while other sections have been damaged to a lesser extent by water and smoke,” municipal officials said.

The Canadian Red Cross has been contracted to establish an emergency evacuation center at the former St. Agnes school property on Croydon Street in Chatham. The Red Cross will also be providing meals to individuals staying at the evacuation center, the release said.

“While Chatham-Kent has an agreement with Indwell to purchase the school, since the sale has not yet closed, Indwell has graciously agreed to allow the municipality to use it in the short-term,” municipal officials said.

Article content

The transition to move displaced residents from hotels to the evacuation center has begun, the release said.

Updates were provided to displaced residents on Friday, with some permitted to briefly visit their units to retrieve personal belongings and medication.

“I want to stress that we are doing everything we can to get everyone affected into longer-term stable housing until the building is made safe again,” said Josh Myers, director of housing services in the release. “Our primary concern is the safety and security of those displaced.”

Employment and social services and housing services teams are “working non-stop to provide social supports and secure stable long-term accommodations for all tenants impacted by the fire,” Myers said.

Article content

“For those affected, case managers will be reaching out as soon as possible to continue the process of transitioning residents into longer-term housing,” he added.

The Provincial Emergency Operations Center facilitated a discussion with all relevant provincial departments including the Treasury Board, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services to discuss with municipal leaders the immediate needs of the displaced residents and the longer-term needs as the building is remediated, the release said.

Article content

Chatham-Kent-Leamington MPP Trevor Jones also met with municipal leaders and toured the investigation area, meeting with investigators, municipal staff and displaced residents, the release added.

“This is an extremely serious situation, and as always, our first priority is the wellbeing of our residents,” said Mayor Darrin Canniff, in the release.

Noting he has been onsite with various municipal teams and provincial representatives, Canniff said, “We are doing everything within our power to find stable housing for those displaced.

“We have dozens of municipal staff and volunteers working on this around the clock,” he said.

The mayor thanked those in the community who have helped out with donations or providing a place for an affected loved one or friend to stay.

“If you haven’t already, please consider visiting one of the seven available donation locations with non-perishable donations,” Canniff said. “It is situations like this where we need our community to come together.”

Up-to-date information, resources, and details on donation locations can be found at www.letstalkchatham-kent.ca/99-mcnaughton.

[email protected]

Article content