By Ruby Pratka
Local Journalism Initiative
The community of Waterloo is coming together to support 11 of its residents who lost their homes when an apartment building was destroyed by fire on Nov. 12.
Patrick Gallagher is the director of public safety and fire safety for the municipality of Waterloo. He said firefighters were called to the scene shortly after 6 a.m. that morning. Neighbours and courageous passersby rushed through the building knocking on doors and telling people to evacuate, Gallagher recounted. No one was injured. However, the fire chief said it quickly became apparent that the building was a total loss, with extensive damage to the roof and facade.
Gallagher and his crew fought the fire with the assistance of crews from Brome Lake, Bromont, Granby and Shefford. “There were about 40 of us,” he recalled. After the fire was out, the firefighters turned their attention to helping the evacuees. “We put together a crisis cell…and we’re collecting clothes and household furniture with the collaboration of the Centre d’action bénévole (CAB) aux 4 Vents, the Knights of Columbus and St. Bernardin Parish.” The crisis cell is also helping victims replace important documents lost in the fire, added Gallagher, his voice betraying his exhaustion.
The municipality of Waterloo has also started a crisis fund to support the victims, and local soccer coach and volunteer Pierre-Paul Foisy has launched a fundraiser on the GoFundMe platform to provide further support, raising nearly $4,000 as of this writing. Local shoe store Chaussures Pop has pitched in as well, offering free winter boots to evacuees, and a storage company has offered free storage space. “This is a tight community, and a lot of people are involved in the response [to the fire],” Gallagher said.
The Canadian Red Cross provided emergency housing and food assistance for the evacuees for the three days following the fire. Now, most are staying with family, friends or acquaintances while they look for long-term housing. “With the rents the way they are now, it’s not easy for people to relocate quickly. That’s the hardest part, and that’s what we’re working on now,” Gallagher said.
It’s still not clear what caused the fire. A Sûreté du Québec investigation is ongoing; SQ Sgt. Audrey-Anne Bilodeau, a police spokesperson, said “it may be a few days or weeks” before investigators learn more.
Gallagher said the crisis cell is actively looking for donations of furniture, appliances and kitchen supplies such as pots and pans for evacuees. Donations of furniture and housewares can be brought to the St. Bernardin Parish office; donations of food and personal hygiene supplies can be brought to the CAB. Any financial donations will be given to the municipal crisis fund and “shared fairly” between the evacuees, he said.