CBC News
NEWFOUNDLAND, Canada — Crews tackling a fatal fire at a St. John’s condominium complex had to break into units to alert hard-of-hearing residents who had not noticed fire alarms, a firefighter said Monday.
Supt. Don Byrne of the St. John’s regional fire department said crews went through the Tiffany condominium complex because some residents had not responded to the alarms.
The fire, which was reported at about midnight Friday amid blizzard-like conditions, claimed the life of a 70-year-old woman.
Byrne said the outcome could have been much more serious if the fire and smoke had not been contained inside the complex, where many of the residents are seniors.
“I’d have to say we were fortunate. [If] that fire [had] extended, we could have been looking at some big, some very different numbers,” Byrne told CBC News.
Byrne said the 45-unit building is up to code, but that there are other systems available in the marketplace that set off emergency lights as well as alarm bells.
A woman who escaped the fire at the complex said thick, dark smoke had engulfed the building.
“I was still in my nightie and bare feet, and I got down to the entrance where people had gathered,” said Emma Jenkins, who lives across the hall from the room where the woman died.
“It was scary, but I knew we weren’t in any danger, and my main concern was about the person in the room where this started.”
The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary’s major crimes unit is investigating the fire, Const. Paul Davis said Monday.
The RNC said the family has asked police not to release the deceased woman’s name. She had been living in the complex for more than 17 years.
Most residents of the Tiffany were allowed to return home Saturday.
Jenkins is staying with her daughter until fire damage to her unit is repaired.
She said residents were grateful to police, firefighters and the Salvation Army, who brought food and blankets, for how they responded to the weekend emergency.
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