Members of Edmonton’s fire rescue services, along with residents of a downtown apartment high rise are dealing with the fatal aftermath of a weekend fire in one of the suites – that left two people dead.
Edmonton police confirmed Monday two people had died, after the fire broke out in the apartment building on 101 Avenue and 117 Street.
Neighbours told CTV News the deceased were a father and daughter, who had been in the same suite at the time of the fire.
Crews were called to the building at about 11 a.m. Sunday – A short time after they arrived; the blaze became a two-alarm, and then a three-alarm fire.
Five people were rescued – officials said at the time that two of them were in serious condition.
Later Monday, CTV News confirmed a man in his 40s and a young child had succumbed to injuries suffered in the blaze.
“It’s not a good day,” Edmonton Fire Chief Ken Block said. “It’s never a good day when you lose someone in a fire.”
On Monday, a number of residents were allowed back into their suites – about 50 residents had turned to the Red Cross for assistance, with hygiene kits, blankets and teddy bears.
Still, the Fire Chief said the fatalities weighed heavily on the minds of the firefighters called to the blaze.
“Whenever we have a major event with a loss of life it affects our staff tremendously,” Block said.
Damage has been estimated at $600,000, but officials said that could change – fire investigators have not determined a cause yet.
With files from Serena Mah
