Firefighters put out the blaze that rekindled from hot spots on Wednesday. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW staff)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

Apartment building fire

Firefighters on scene again putting out hot spots

Jan 5, 2022 | 5:07 PM

Local firefighters were back on the job Wednesday at about 8 a.m. and throughout the day quelling hot spots at the North Battleford apartment building at 1441 – 102 Street, where they responded to a big fire early Monday.

“We’ve gone back a couple of times because the roof had ended up collapsing on the structure,” North Battleford Fire Chief Lindsay Holm told battlefordsNOW. “When it did collapse, it kind of collapsed in a pancake sort of form.”

Firefighters had to deal with a number of slow burns within the layers of wood as fires started to rekindle in some parts.

“We’ve been there ever since almost, trying to put out hot spots that resulted because of the roof collapse of the structure,” Holm said.

He said crews plan to bring in heavy equipment later Wednesday to peel away some of the building and knock down any remaining hot spots.

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When the fire first started early Monday, Holm said, firefighters had a big job putting out the blaze.

“It was fairly well advanced when we got on-scene,” he said.

One of the firefighters was able to rescue a victim off the third floor balcony by carrying the individual down on a ladder.

The city said in a release the building’s residents were evacuated, with 17 people transported to Battlefords Union Hospital. One person received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries and 16 people were treated and discharged. All 17 residents have since been treated and released, while six emergency services personnel were also treated and discharged. No fatalities were reported.

The city is asking that people avoid the 1400-block of 102 Street as crews continue to monitor for pocket fires and secure the scene.

North Battleford Fire Service, Community Safety Officers, Battlefords RCMP, other area fire departments and the local EMS responded to the blaze. The city established an Emergency Operations Centre to co-ordinate the response.

Holm told battlefordsNOW the building sustained significant fire damage throughout.

The RCMP reported the cause of the fire may be suspicious in nature.

Holm confirmed there is a joint investigation underway between the North Battleford Fire Department, the RCMP and the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency.

“All entities involved will be doing a thorough investigation on it,” he said. “We’re hoping to have some results of that investigation shortly.”

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW