Exhausted and frustrated View Towers residents attended a meeting at the University of Victoria Wednesday night, hoping they would learn when they could return to their apartments or where they would stay after last week’s fire.
The media was not allowed to attend the meeting. But a statement issued by the city said the Canadian Red Cross and Salvation Army will set up a centre in View Towers this morning to provide services and information on what is next for residents.
About 30 displaced residents have been staying at UVic. Dozens more have been staying with family or friends. It’s estimated about 70 people are unable to return to their suites in the 350-unit building.
As they waited for the meeting to begin, several women said the Red Cross and emergency social services had been great, but the uncertainty about their belongings and contradictory information about their apartments was like “emotional whiplash.” Although they are looking for other apartments, they did not want their names published in the newspaper in case they have to return to View Towers.
One woman said she believed displaced residents will be looked after on a temporary basis by the Red Cross until they can make their own arrangements.
Resident Allan Brown said he was in his apartment the day after the fire and it had no water damage. When he returned, the locks had been changed.
“Management is giving, totally, no answers to our questions at all,” said Brown. “I got so p----d off I could barely talk. I want answers. I want to know why I can’t get back in my apartment and get my stuff.”
The fire broke out on May 15 and destroyed the ninth-floor suite where it was started by a lit cigarette.
Although emergency assistance typically lasts only three days, the province has provided seven days of assistance.
Last week, the Victoria Emergency Management Agency said 67 suites were damaged by smoke or water, displacing about 50 people.
Victoria Mayor Dean Fortin, Victoria Fire Chief Paul Bruce, emergency management staff from both the city and the province, B.C. Housing and social agencies met Wednesday to devise a plan on how to help the residents in the long term.
Residents who have been allowed back in the building say they’re concerned about poor air quality and asbestos.
A warning notice posted in the hallways by Downs Construction says: “Clean up and repair of the damaged areas may also cause air quality issues. Hazardous materials may include asbestos fibres. People entering this building do so warned of the potential risks.”
Alex Krampol, who has lived in the building for two years, said malfunctioning fire alarms go off on an almost daily basis and many residents ignore them. Krampol said when last week’s blaze happened, he held his pillow over his ears until he smelt smoke and realized it was not a false alarm.
“In the future, it could be something that puts somebody’s life in danger,” he said.
The building does not have sprinklers because it was built in the 1960s when sprinklers were not required.
View Towers management would not say if they had any plans to reimburse displaced tenants on their rent or damage deposit.
