At least 35 people displaced by apartment fire in Charlottetown

Nearly three dozenpeople were displaced by an early-morning fire Thursday that damaged a 12-unit apartment building on Norwood Road in Charlottetown.

Fire inspector Winston Bryan said firefighters were dispatched around 3:15a.m. to 269 Norwood Road, and when they arrived there were still people on the third floor.

"Charlottetown city police performed a rescue to remove the people from the third level, prior to the arrival of the fire department," Bryan said.

According to Bryan, there was a person on the rear side of the building. Police found a ladder on the property and helped the person escape and come down the ladder.

"I just arrived on scene when police were performing this rescue," he said. "All occupants were good, one individual sprained his ankle."

The fire is under investigation. Bryan said firefighters will be on scene for the rest of the day.

As for the damage, Bryan said the building is "gutted," with smoke and water damage to the rest of the three-storey building.

"Heavy toxic smoke was being produced in this building during the fire, so it got into all the living quarters," he said.

"I say the building has a considerable amount of damage," he added, saying that it will be a "long period of time" before anyone can move back in.

All 35 displaced were transported to the Holiday Inn Express, he said.

The Red Cross said volunteers have been helping to arrangeemergency housing and meals for all 35 residents.

A news release said the organization was "assessing needs for other support like emergency purchases of clothing once tenants learn if and when they can retrieve other personal effects from the damaged three-storey structure."

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