Residents of an apartment building at 443 Superior St. in James Bay were waiting for the green light to go back into their suites, after fire tore through a third-floor unit in the rear of the building early Tuesday evening.
Multiple calls came in just before 6 p.m. and when the first fire crew arrived from the nearby hall on Michigan Street, firefighters found a lot of fire and smoke, according to Battalion Chief Wayn Moody. Firefighters in the the first truck on scene attacked the fire from the rear of the building off Michigan and knocked it down from the outside, then susbsequently began attacking from the inside.
— Dizzy Wizard (@dizzy1618) July 12, 2017
No one was home in the suite where the fire began, but a neighbour who was knocking on doors yelling for people to get out of the building was treated for smoke inhalation. No one else was injured, although at least one firefighter was also treated on scene for smoke inhalation.
Emergency social services staff were called out to help residents displaced by the fire and firefighters were working to remove all pets from the building.
Description of fire alarms by resident of superior street apt bldg where fire occurred pic.twitter.com/nSjPP4uke6
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Fire in victoria apt. Building Superior street pic.twitter.com/NtndI1VOkd
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Smoke filled both Superior and Michigan streets at the fire’s peak, and brown smoke could be seen and smelled for many blocks away. Moody said calls came in reporting fire on both streets, but the first truck entered through the rear parking lot. “In this case it was a win because they were able to see the fire and knock it down right away,” he said.
The early estimate was that at least six suites were affected by fire, smoke or water damage. No determination of cause was available as of about 7:30 p.m., as firefighters were still making sure all hot spots were extinguished.
