Residents won't be moving back to their apartments anytime soon as the fire investigation continues at 114 Holland St. West after a fire occurred on the fifth floor of the 84 unit apartment on Monday afternoon.
Operations Manager with the Office of the Fire Marshal Larry Brassard said an experienced team has been assembled that will be thoroughly examining the scene of the fire over the next few days.
"It's going to be a painstaking process," he said. "This is a very serious fire so we are pulling out all the stops to make sure this investigation is thorough and complete."
Brassard said the structural damage inside the building is on the more pronounced side of anything he has seen before.
"This is a very serious fire for sure," he said.
Brassard said it is premature to speculate on the cause of the fire at this time.
"Our investigators are trained to keep their mind wide open to all the possibilities...and prove through a scientific method exactly how this fire started," he said.
Engineers have conducted their survey and put out a detailed plan to shore up the structure.
"We can commence with that shoring which we are hoping will be completed today and will put us on the path of having the fire inspectors' work completed toward the end of the week," said Fire Chief Jim Kay. "We are hoping the fire marshal office can complete their work so we can get onto the restoration piece."
The source of the fire has not been accessed as of yet due to shoring.
"It is a very complicated and calculated detail that does require a structural engineer, they are formulating that and building it by hand," said Kay.
The most fire damage occurred on the fifth and sixth floors. There is also extensive water damage on the floors below due to firefighting water and melted pipes.
Kay said there is no reason to believe there is any criminal element to the fire.
Eleven people were sent to hospital on Monday. As of Tuesday, there were three residents in serious condition and one critical. There have been no updates on their condition.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families," said Kay.
All 110 residents from the 84 units have been accounted for and are either staying with family and friends or at a hotel.
Most pets have been reunited with their owners, but unfortunately, some did not make it.
Kay says it will be at least two weeks until they will be able to determine which part of the building residents can access.
"We are hoping that two weeks there will be some normality to maybe part of the building, a lot of that depends though on the structural integrity," he said. "It's an estimation of when some of the folks can go back in to obtain their personal property."
Brassard commended the work of Chief Kay and the rest of the fire crews as well as South Simcoe Police throughout the investigation process.
"I really have to give a shoutout to them for their professionalism and their diligence in this case, it's been a model for other public service agencies to follow," he said.
The Town of BWG has established a dedicated phone line for displaced residents. Please call 905-775-5366 Ext. 0 for assistance and to be connected with support including the Red Cross and County social services.
