New Waterford apartment building fire sends man to hospital

A man is in hospital after jumping from the second storey of aburning New Waterford apartment building early Saturday morning, the Canadian Red Cross says.

The man, who is in his 50s, suffered smoke inhalation, cuts and leg injuries, including possible fractures, spokesman DanBedell said in a press release.

A fire gutted thetwo storey,11-unit apartment building on Plummer Avenue putting 15 people out of their homes, hesaid.

Neighbour knocked on doors

Some got out thanks to one neighbour, saidJasonNoseworthy, disaster management associate with the Red Cross.

"She was going around knocking on doors and trying to get everybody out," he said.

"If it wasn't for her doing what she did some people may not have been alerted. She did a great job today."

Eleven peopleare now in lodging provided by the Red Cross, Noseworthy said.

Building a complete loss

Cape Breton Regional Police and multiple volunteer fire departments responded to the call, which came in around 5 a.m. Saturday.

Firefighters from Scotchtown, Glace Bay and New Victoria came to help, New Waterford Fire Chief Lenny Barrington said Saturday afternoon.

He said 13 tenants were already outside the building by the time they arrived.The wooden buildingis a complete loss, he said.

Other homes evacuated, street closed

Around 30 firefighters worked to contain the fire from spreading, using three-pumpers,an aerial truck and nearbyhydrants, he said. The team only returned to the fire hall around 2:30 p.m.

Firefighters were slowed down by the cold, icy conditions, Barrington said, and he's glad no one was hurt.

Police said earlier several homes in the area wereevacuated because of the heat and smoke coming from the blaze.

Plummer Avenue near Smith Street is expected to be closed to traffic for most of the day.

'It happened so fast'

The Canadian Red Cross has provided emergency lodging, food and clothing, among other items, for the tenants. A couple and two children were out of town for the weekendand the Red Cross says it will help themas well.

"Essentially all they had was just the clothing on their back," Noseworthysaid.

"It happened so fast."

Two dogs and a cat also got out, he said.

The fire marshal is still investigating the cause of the fire.