Residents evacuated following Kitchener apartment fire
Posted Jan 28, 2010 05:11:01 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
About a dozen people, including children, were evacuated from their homes early this morning following a fire in downtown Kitchener.
The 2:00 a.m fire broke out at in the back of 87 Cedar Street South, near Church Street – a large house divided into rental units – destroying a large section at the back of the building.
Kitchener Fire Department, Fire Prevention Officer, Rick Brooks tells 570 News the fire was set under an exterior staircase where bags of clothes had been discarded. He says they are considering it “very suspicious.”
21-year-old tenant Michael Bailie is calling his neighbour a hero. He tells 570 News Doug Hall, another resident in the building, alerted him to the fire. Hall also went around banging on other doors to wake up the rest of the buildings residents.
Some residents were able to return to their units, while others were evacuated to the high-rise apartment building across the street and others are staying with relatives.
No one was injured and damage is pegged at $30,000.
The Ontario Fire Marshall’s Office has been called in to lead the investigation; Regional Police will assist as needed.
