Apartment fire leaves Surrey residents awaiting answers

More than 100 Surrey residents are anxiously waiting to learn when they will be able to return homeafter a four-alarm fire tore through an apartment complex late Saturday night.

Speaking with host Stephen Quinn on The Early Edition, Surrey City Councillor Bruce Hayne said many of the displaced residents are currently living out of hotel rooms around the city.

An emergency meeting was held Sunday afternoon for residents displaced by the fire to connect them with social services.

• 4-alarm apartment fire displaces Surrey residents

"The Red Cross are helping out as well as the Salvation Army at this point. There is some emergency funds available for folks right now through the emergency social services team, and then we're looking for the medium and long-term accommodations for people as we go forward."

As the displaced residents begin trying to pick up the pieces, many questions remain unanswered.

Cause still undetermined

Surrey's assistant Fire Chief Brian Woznikoski says the fire originated from a second floor balcony on the south side of the building, although the cause is still under investigation.

"There is extreme damage to the fourth-floor roof of the building. All of the other units in the building will have some type of damage in terms of smoke or fire."

Woznikoski also confirmed part of the building's south side has collapsed but did not go into further specifics.

No access to units

Amar Jaggi lives on the second floor of the Celeste apartment building. He says he doesn't have insurance and is still waiting to learn the fate of his unit and the possessions inside.

"What I was told is that [for] another ten, fifteen days we won't have access to anything."

Jaggi is also self-employed and primarily worked from home; until the fire forced him to evacuate with only the clothes he was wearing.

"My clients files are in there.My laptop is in there everything I have is in that apartment."

Along with the loss of his business files, Jaggi is worried he will have to pay rent on top of his mortgage while the building is repaired.

"My biggest concern is that I'll end up paying rent at the new place, wherever I move in, and I'm also paying strata and mortgage at this place. That's going to be tough."

With files from Jesse Johnston, Gian-Paolo Mendoza