Three-alarm blaze in Stoney Creek decimates seniors’ apartment building
Dozens of people have been displaced after a massive blaze in Stoney Creek tore through the roof of a three-storey seniors' apartment building and left millions of dollars worth of damage in its path.
At least 50 firefighters responded to 110 Stoney Brook Dr., just off King Street East and parallel to Westbury Avenue, at around 6:55 p.m. for a three-alarm structure fire.
Dozens of people have been displaced after a massive blaze in Stoney Creek tore through the roof of a three-storey seniors' apartment building and left millions of dollars worth of damage in its path.
At least 50 firefighters responded to 110 Stoney Brook Dr., just off King Street East and parallel to Westbury Avenue, at around 6:55 p.m. for a three-alarm structure fire.
Chief Dave Cunliffe of the Hamilton Fire Department said the blaze originated on the third-floor and aggressively extended through the roof within minutes of breaking out.
It was a very aggressive fire, rapidly building," Cunliffe told reporters at an impromptu news conference on Stoney Brook. You could see the smoke bloom from the Hamilton Mountain."
The western wing of the building bore the brunt of the damage, which Cunliffe estimates to be in the millions and millions of dollars" range.
A portion of the structure has had its roof completely totalled and balconies charred.
More than 18 apartments have sustained heavy fire or water damage. Five of them - ones that sat just below the roof - have been reduced to near rubble.
As of 9:15 p.m., aerial fire crews could still be seen dousing hot spots on the roof.
Two HSR buses were parked outside the building shuffling in displaced tenants.
It is not yet clear what accommodations have been arranged for them.
Cunliffe said some tenants were picked up by family members while others were taken in by neighbours.
The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
Cunliffe said the Office of the Fire Marshal has been called in to investigate and inspectors will be on scene Thursday morning.
We're very fortunate with this fire," said Cunliffe. We did not see any injuries or fatalities, and that's on the quick-thinking of the residents to self-evacuate as well as the firefighters to get this fire out."
More than 100 tenants flooded onto the street under the backdrop of thick, black smoke and ringing alarms.
It was a surreal sight for Marshall and Judy Baker, seven-year tenants of the accessible building who scurried out with their dog in hand.
I could see what looked like fog come out of my window," said Marshall. I went on my balcony and then saw black smoke rolling off the roof, pouring out of it."
It was very fast," chimed in Judy, a little white dog clutched underneath her arms. We grabbed the dog and got out."
The couple said their two-bedroom unit on the third floor was across from where the fire is believed to have originated.
The roof is gone," said Marshall. We don't have a roof."
Sandy Dunlop lives on the second floor, on the east-end of the building that faces a nearby park. She heard an alarm, then chatter.
I open the door and smoke was billowing through the halls," she said. I came outside and it was like a tinderbox."
Lorenza Collins thought it was a joke when her neighbour awoke her to say there was some sort of mist or fog outside her window.
There was no smell of smoke, she said, no sign of fire. She went into the neighbour's unit and peered out the window.
I said, OK, there's a fire. Let's get the hell out of here,'" she said. We started banging on everyone's doors. I grabbed a neighbour who's blind and got him out."
More than a kilometre away from 110 Stoney Brook, Rob Dibacco was on the yard of his Glengarry Drive home doing renovation work. His friend called him over.
He said Look there, the building,'" Dibacco said. I saw the flames really high up in the air. They were popping. You could really hear the popping."
Cunliffe said crews will remain on scene for a number of days.
Police have cordoned off a long stretch of Stoney Brook, from Winthrop Place to Gateshead Crescent.
Sebastian Bron is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach him via email: sbron@thespec.com