Home > Police and Court

Two men dead after apartment fire

Two men are dead after a fire broke out at Balmoral Apartments on Bruce Street, around 8 p.m. Feb. 4. Photo by Ed Veilleux.

Two men are dead after a fire broke out at Balmoral Apartments on Bruce Street, around 8 p.m. Feb. 4. Photo by Ed Veilleux.

Knowing what to do = learning the options, being prepared. Not knowing what do do = unprepared. From the dictionary- IGNORANT: ig·no·rant (gnr-nt) adj. 1. Lacking education or knowledge. 2. Showing or arising from a lack of education or knowledge 3....

Posted by: Phillip Morris

Read All Comments

Article Tools

Subscribe to Sudbury Today

Report a typo

Contact the Editor

Bookmark and Share
Feb 04, 2010

By: Sudbury Northern Life Staff

UPDATED - Feb. 4, 12:55 p.m.

A fire that broke out at the Balmoral Apartments on Bruce Street around 8 p.m. Feb. 3 has resulted in the death of two men.

Greater Sudbury Police, Sudbury Fire Services and Emergency Medical Services attended the scene of the fire at around 8:20 p.m.

The fire itself was contained to one apartment. Fire services found one man inside the apartment. According to platoon chief Tony Thibeault from Sudbury Fire Services, the man was pronounced dead at scene.

A second body was found in a stairwell of the building, but his death does not appear to be a direct result of the fire.

Thibeault was unable to confirm if the stairwell death was caused by smoke inhalation, an accident, or a health condition. Greater Sudbury Police constable Albert Lapalme said the stairwell death was not suspicious and foul play was not suspected.

Sudbury Transit provided buses as temporary shelter for evacuated tenants, but most residents were able to return to their apartments after the fire was extinguished. Some were relocated for the night.

The names of the two men have not been released by police. Autopsies are scheduled for Feb. 4.

Investigation into the fire is being handled by Greater Sudbury Police and the Ontario Fire Marshal's office.

Reader's Feedback

Editor’s Note:

NorthernLife.ca may contain content submitted by readers, usually in the form of article comments or postings to myNews. All reader comments and any opinions, advice, statements or other information contained in any messages posted or transmitted by any third party are the responsibility of the author of that message and not of NorthernLife.ca. The fact that a particular message is posted on or transmitted using this web site does not mean that NorthernLife.ca has endorsed that message in any way or verified the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any message. We encourage visitors to NorthernLife.ca to report any objectionable content by using the "report abuse" link found in the comments section of this web site.

35 Comments

  • Phillip Morris 2/28/2010 8:28:14 AM - Report Abuse

    Knowing what to do = learning the options, being prepared.

    Not knowing what do do = unprepared.

    From the dictionary-

    IGNORANT:
    ig·no·rant (gnr-nt)
    adj.
    1. Lacking education or knowledge.
    2. Showing or arising from a lack of education or …more» knowledge
    3. Unaware or uninformed.

    Pretty clear stuff. No sinking to insults needed to prove my point. Get a grip on your ego ma'am.«less

  • skndstry 2/16/2010 11:09:36 AM - Report Abuse

    And the point you conveniently choose to ignore is that "wouldn't know what to do" doesn't necessarily translate as "unprepared" or "ignorant", so as per usual, you've used too large a paint brush. And as per …more» usual, you can't decide what argument to use, so you use them all, even if they conflict with one another. (You didn't say dimwitted and lazy, or you did? YOU can't even decide. And seriously - have you ever heard of the pot calling the kettle black? You're utterly shameless.)

    Rescue people join that profession because they CHOOSE to do so - they know they are putting themselves at risk for others. They don't see it as weakness, because THEY know the training they have to endure to get past their own fear - and it is far more intensive than anything a civilian is going to undergo.

    Nobody is defending a choice - everybody should have a plan and do what it takes to remain safe - but rather we are pointing out that best preparation aside, panicking or freezing up does not indicate a failure of character.

    Your posts, on the other hand, betray your failure of character daily.«less

  • Phillip Morris 2/12/2010 6:57:13 PM - Report Abuse

    Accepting the truth as a personal crusade to save face for being wrong. Then sinking to insults because you can't let it go IS the point there wonderin.

    The unchanged truth is you can be prepared, or chose to be ignorant. That is dim-witted and …more» lazy. Sooner or later the odds catch up with those people. Needlessly putting rescue workers at risk. Just because 'I didn't know what to do".
    How anyone can seriously defend that choice is beyond logic.«less

  • skndstry 2/12/2010 1:55:24 PM - Report Abuse

    PM was the one who raised the war point.

    And sure it's relevant - if you are in the fire, you will experience a level of fear and panic that no amount of "preparation" or "training" can account for. It will be life and death, …more» and the initial conversation started with someone's admission that they didn't know what they would do.

    At no point has anyone raised batteries in smoke detectors as a point of conversation, so wtf does that have to do with anything PM said?

    It would be easy to not take things personally if people didn't resort to personal attacks. Calling people careless, lazy and dimwitted counts IMO.«less

  • wondrinwhy 2/10/2010 7:08:54 PM - Report Abuse

    Being shot at in a war is not even relevant next to being prepared for a home disaster. And I do agree with some of what PM said. How many people to you think really change their smoke alarm batteries 2 times a year? Thats a death waiting to happen, …more» no alarm, no waking up to flee.
    We're all adults, surely we can share opinions without taking everything so personally.«less

  • skndstry 2/9/2010 10:21:28 AM - Report Abuse

    PMAT - you cannot inoculate yourself against fear through preparation without being in the situation. Simple as that. I have close relatives in the military - major traiing, battle school, war games, endless drills. I've heard it from the horses …more» mouth - battle tested vets. The first time they come under fire - they still **** their pants, because it is nothing like anything you've done when those bullets are real and you don't get tapped out - you die.

    Planning helps, but it in no way comes close to matching the real deal. Some freeze, some don't. You won't know until it is your turn - and given the bile you spew regularly, your time will come. I hope you are everything you think you are when it does - but I doubt it. You're a very small person, not to mention a liar.

    "Putting rescue workers in danger to risk themselves for the few careless, lazy and dim-witted. Almost 100% of fire related deaths are preventable."

    You wrote those words. If almost 100% of fire-related deaths are preventable, it stands to reason that the almost 100% who die in fires must be careless, lazy and dim-witted. Otherwise, why are they dying in a situation that is so easy to prevent?

    I don't need to twist your words - I just use them against you, because they come out so twisted. Quit being such a whiner.

    (BTW - I'll say it again. You have no high ground. You went from simply reprehensible to utterly pathetic.)«less

  • Phillip Morris 2/6/2010 7:06:54 PM - Report Abuse

    Keep tossing the insults and trying to twist words there Mr.skndstry.
    Not once did I post that all fire deaths are attributed to people being lazy, dim witted marshmallows.
    That's the conclusion you drew from your own personal feelings.
    I clearly …more» posted, " ​I​ ​w​o​u​l​d​n​'​t​ ​k​n​o​w​ ​w​h​a​t​ ​t​o​ ​d​o​"​ ​i​s​ ​e​x​a​c​t​l​y​ ​w​h​a​t​ ​c​a​u​s​e​s​ ​n​e​e​d​l​e​s​s​ ​d​e​a​t​h​s​. "​P​u​t​t​i​n​g​ ​r​e​s​c​u​e​ ​w​o​r​k​e​r​s​ ​i​n​ ​d​a​n​g​e​r​ ​t​o​ ​r​i​s​k​ ​t​h​e​m​s​e​l​v​e​s​ ​f​o​r​ ​t​h​e​ ​f​e​w​ ​c​a​r​e​l​e​s​s​,​ ​l​a​z​y​ ​a​n​d​ ​d​i​m​-​w​i​t​t​e​d​."
    Those that choose to be ignorant have the odds eventually catch up with them. It's that simple.
    Educate yourself. Prepare yourself. Practice and learn.
    Inoculate yourself from fear by being ready now. When you're calm.
    How hard is that? (Apparently some chose to be victims. Others defend it knowing they're in the same boat)«less

  • Casey 2/5/2010 8:42:10 PM - Report Abuse

    Hahahaa. skndstry
    Thank's for that post. It was good and put a smile on my face : )

  • Informed 2/5/2010 6:13:45 PM - Report Abuse

    if anyone is cornerd PM...it's you on this one!!!

  • skndstry 2/5/2010 4:04:19 PM - Report Abuse

    Once again PMAT's charm is on display.

    So, anyone who dies in a fire is a careless, lazy, dim-witted marshmallow? Please do share with us your anonymous tales of bravery and heroism, and we'll all try not to laugh.

    Have you ever seen a …more» real fire spread? Do you know how quickly it happens? It can be mere seconds. Smoke so thick and choking that you can't tell which way is up or down. Plans are just that - plans. But until you've left behind the hypothetical and been in the real thing, you should reserve judgement, lest some higher power decide it is your turn to test your mettle. You have no right to judge.

    Certainly there is some personal responsibility that comes into play. But GOM, if you really think your five year old would react just the way you've gone over your plans, then I call BS on you having a five year old at all.

    Our forefathers had the foresight and compassion to create social infrastructure and safety nets for people. It is why we don't live in a libertarian utopia where everybody carries a gun and is on their own.

    Those that have no sense of society are usually that way because they have been cast out of society - often for good reasons. Still, it is sad. Karma is a b*tch, isn't it? I won't call it down upon any of you, because it is quite obvious your punishment is being you.«less

  • geekt 2/5/2010 3:49:22 PM - Report Abuse

    Thank you Informed. :)

    Well my comments were deleted...what ever happend to freedom of speech?!.

  • Outskirts Oscar 2/5/2010 2:25:18 PM - Report Abuse

    I used to live in that Chimney Log I call the Balmoral.

    Every year, the FD was called there for some incident, and I was always wondering when will be the fatal one gonna happen... And then I read about this.

    My condolences to the families of the …more» deceased individuals. However, given that Balmoral gets FD calls on a semi-annual basis, (from my experiences, and I don't know about it nowadays), makes me wonder what is going on there...«less

  • Informed 2/5/2010 1:23:22 PM - Report Abuse

    PM...you're going to use the World Wars as examples??? Learn your history!!! WWI was brutal!! There were men that went screaming the other way when they were told to advance on the enemy due to the shear magnitude of what they were facing! …more» Soldiers froze in the trenches from fear and panic!!! They did the same thing in the field!!! Does anyone feel in any way ashamed of them??? No!!! because they were there to do what they thought was right! And a stressful situation...sorry...scratch that....I don't think stressful is a powerful enough word....we have no idea how intimidating those situations were....young men (and women) still fought...regardless of what happened!!! And WWII...don't get me started!!! Do you honestly think that not one soldier froze on D-Day??? And again...do we feel anything less for those brave souls??? No!!! Because once again, they were doing what they thought was right...regardless of what the outcome was!!!!

    Has society become 'dependant'...yes...I think it has....but do I think that someone who panics or freezes in a life or death situation is a 'marshmallow' as you put it??? God no!!!

    Geekt, just ignore these types of comments. I don't judge you or feel animosity towards you. You're being honest with yourself! All you can do is teach your children the proper responses...and hope that if you're ever put in a life threatening situation...that you won't panic!!!«less

  • Phillip Morris 2/5/2010 11:03:31 AM - Report Abuse

    Again, Doreen you speak the truth. Warts and all that people just don't want to hear.
    Society has become dependant on others to take care of them. "The authorities will bail me out."
    The lack of common sense and forward planning is …more» covered by the lame excuse that somehow blind panic is an out. Turing people into fainting goats every time their pulse gets up from a siren, alarm, or loud noise.

    Get a grip folks. Even now readers can see the sense of panic in the rebuttals of those that are pre-planning to make themselves victims in the next 'disaster' that comes their way. Our forefathers must be conducting back-flips in their graves.
    How could we have fought 2 world wars and settled this continent with the marshmallow types that abound today? Perhaps someone else would have done it for them.«less

  • Informed 2/5/2010 9:53:27 AM - Report Abuse

    I agree with everyone that children and families should be prepared to handle emergency situations. Children should know what to do in case of a fire, or any other situation that would require a call to 911.

    However, almost everyone in the emergency …more» response field (police, ambulance, fire) will tell you that even a seasoned individual who is prepared for an emergency situation can panic, have a loss of memory, and not remember what to do. Someone could be a dozen stressful situations and react with perfect calm, then suddenly freeze for no apparent reason. It's more common that you think. Like geekt pointed out, some students can suffer from a mild form of this when it comes to exams. They can prepare for weeks, recite everything they know before the exam, but when they get in the room to actually write...they go blank. Psychologists are currently studying this disorder.

    For someone to admit that they have this problem takes a lot of guts. And to recognize that you have the problem is the first step in trying to learn methods that will prevent this from happening.

    So before you go off and chastise someone for having this problem...stop and think about it. We're all different. We all react in different ways to stress. It's part of being human. No one is perfect, and no one knows exactly how they will react when they are in a life threatening situation until you've personally been in one. All we can do is prepare ourselves, and hope that we will react the way we think we should.«less

  • geekt 2/5/2010 9:32:51 AM - Report Abuse

    Doreen, you are something else to attack me on my comments and concerns. Not everybody is so perfect like yourself. Yes, I would probably freeze up in a difficult panic situation and alot of us would. We can teach our children to call 911 when there is …more» an emergency or ways to escape a building during a fire...that's the easy part BUT "Grumpy old man" kids don't always listen and remember and kids aren't perfect like Doreen, people get nervous. It would be like studying all night for an exam and getting to the exam and going blank becuase you're nervous. Thank you Chararm for being a better person and realizing that Doreens comments were uncalled for. Anyways, so sorry Chararm for what happend and I hope your mother is doing a little better.«less

  • Doreen 2/5/2010 9:24:27 AM - Report Abuse

    It was the fact that you said that you wouldnt know what to do that I found incredible....part of being a parent is being prepared and knowing what to do in an emergency...Im far from perfect but I am a responsible parent...my children are grown now, but …more» I had 4 very close together, I took first aid classes, and we did fire drills, so that in the event of an emergency when everyone is scared they would have the basic skills to protect themselves.
    I get tired of the attitude that I see so often where people expect others to take care of them...we live in an overweight lazy welfare depandent society..so I have no regrets saying 'take responsibility for yourself'.«less

  • unknown 2/5/2010 8:53:42 AM - Report Abuse

    Before laying blame with the firefighters why not wait for more information? Maybe the fatality in the stairway had pre-existing medical conditions.

    The fire fighters did immediately enter the building and evacuated those who needed to get out and …more» then assisted those who needed help.«less

  • citizen 2/5/2010 8:52:07 AM - Report Abuse

    I agree denzel. Casey - If the public only knew the facts behind the unfortunate fellow in the car on fire last year, opinions would be different. We should be thankful to have the emergency services that we do; those who know what actually happens on …more» the scene of these situations fully appreciate those personnel.«less

  • denzel 2/5/2010 8:48:10 AM - Report Abuse

    Hey Casey you should get your facts straight before talking. Do you know what happened at that fire, where you there. Do you know how many firefighters were on scene. I doubt that you do. Well the first station in on that call would of only had 6 …more» firefighters and two captians, two firefighters and a captain to go in and put the fire out, one firefighter to run the pump on the truck, two firefighters to set up the aerial for rescue, and a firefighter and a captian to perform any rescues. Yeh that's right two guys for that many people. Once another station came from new sudbury there's three more firefighters and a captian, but it might of been to late. That fellow in the stairwell may have already died before the fire dpartment even got there. I can't believe you would actually put down your fire service when you don't know how a scene like that is run. Someday you maybe needed by your local fire service and you would thank the god that they were there to help you.«less

  • geekt 2/5/2010 8:23:07 AM - Report Abuse

    Doreen, you are something else to attack me on my comments and concerns. Not everybody is so perfect like yourself. Yes, I would probably freeze up in a difficult panic situation and alot of us would. We can teach our children to call 911 when there is …more» an emergency or ways to escape a building during a fire...that's the easy part BUT "Grumpy old man" kids don't always listen and remember and kids aren't perfect like Doreen, people get nervous. It would be like studying all night for an exam and getting to the exam and going blank becuase you're nervous. Thank you Chararm for being a better person and realizing that Doreens comments were uncalled for. Anyways, so sorry Chararm for what happend and I hope your mother is doing a little better.«less

  • Casey 2/5/2010 7:56:07 AM - Report Abuse

    Firefighters should have entered that building right away to determine if an evacuation was needed or safe for that matter. While the fire was being extinguished, firefighters should have been disbursed to every floor to aid the frail and elderly. At the …more» very least there should have been firefighters in the stairwells. Charam...most comments you will get on the local paper blogs will be negative. Most people that post on here enjoy to sit back and pass judgment on others. It will be absolutely tragic if the deceased male in the stairwell passed due to smoke inhalation! If that turns out to be the case a complaint should be put in, an inquest or whatever they do...Maybe our local firefighters need more training???? Look what happened last year with the deceased man in the car that was on fire. The didn't even check if he was there and then they left, leaving a corpse in the vehicle...If their mistake this time cost someone their life something surely needs to be done.«less

  • shadoo 2/4/2010 11:00:24 PM - Report Abuse

    I cannot begin to tell you how horrific this all really was...i was on a web camera with a resident who is my sister,witnessed it all rate until i yelled to leave as the firemen said to evacuate immediatly...which she was in a state of shock with no …more» instuctions of how to get down from a 15th floor,no one knew where the fire was,heavy smoke inside and outside..she woulnt leave she thought she had no way out,she honestly thought that was it for her,she was yellingoutside on the balcony to please help her..she got enough courage to go out that door of her apartment...on the way down thick thick smoke,she coulnt hardly breathe she thought she wasnt gonna make it,no fireman in sight on the stairways.well guess what the internet was still on i could hear after she was gone everyone stay in ur apart..instucted to leave then stay.cmon the smoke was too thick and thats why my sister thought she was not making it out.she is still in shock and in the situation i cannot imagine what was going through her mind..she was brave and is a hero in my eyes,and after she got down to the bottom floor no one even checked her out..it isnt about how everyone opinion that matters, what matters is all the people in that building not knowing is what matters,and the devastating impact it will leave on them for life..just to hear a fire alarm again,they will panic wandering is this real or isnt it..i wasnt at the bottom but i witnessed everything on top and i tell you...all ...you had to have been there...god bless all the families that lost there loved ones!!«less

  • Chararm 2/4/2010 8:51:45 PM - Report Abuse

    I am not sure how this became an attack on everyone! Yes Beretta you are right this world is definitely missing a lot compassion... you are a classic example of someone displaying a severe lack of compassion... My original message on this thread was just …more» to state that I felt that the whole situation could have been handled better now everything has been twisted!... And to respond to you ignorance (although it really does not justify a response) she did of course inform the firemen (if she did not that would make her a monster of sorts) and she was unable to do anything, being a very petite senior citizen... she was lucky that she made it out alive herself as the smoke was very thick and engulfed the entire stairwell. With the exception of highly trained medical persons, I would not recommend anyone try to move or help anyone in this situation.. The best thing that could be done is to get help.. someone who is actually trained and capable of helping them.. You seem to be quite the martyr beretta...I would not hold yourself up so high on a pedestal just yet... wait one day you will be put in a situation and I hope for your sake that others do not try and pass judgment upon you like you are attempting to do here.. and for the record my mother was in a massive state of shock to the point we almost had to take her to the hospital..and her shock was mostly due to the concern she felt for those in the dark smokey stairwell that she was unable to help and the elderly couple who she offered to share her wet towel with that pushed her forward... don't go making assumptions when you have NO IDEA.. This was a very tragic situation... Second_account... thank you for your kind, educated and realistic out look... I agree with everything you said. I am thankful for all those that got out safely, I too will keep in my prayers the families that did lose their loved ones..«less

  • second_account 2/4/2010 7:42:07 PM - Report Abuse

    Take it easy on the residents of this building. Of course a sound fire plan is a must, but until you actually need to use it for a real life emergency, its easy to assume everything would go smoothly.
    Expecting elderly folks to remember the safe & …more» expeditious way out of a multi story building in case of fire, when the whole place is smoked out and folks are panicking left & right is a little much. How many seniors do you know that have a hard time crossing the road? Remembering a phone number? Their grand kids' names'? To expect them to evacuate like it was a walk in the park is unreasonable.
    Condolences to those who lost a loved one.«less

  • beretta96 2/4/2010 4:43:47 PM - Report Abuse

    Chararm, how old is your mother? I personally coudn't walk over 2 or 3 people who "appear" to be unconscious to get out alone. Unless she's elderly, she could have quickly checked their state and inform the firemen at the very least? …more» The only exception I see is kids and elderly who may not understand, but other than that, everyone should be trying to help somebody in a situation like this. It's called compassion. I fear this is the way of the future, every man/woman for themselves I guess.«less

  • Ginger 2/4/2010 2:51:13 PM - Report Abuse

    This whole thing does seem to be missing some pieces. Agreed, there should definitely be a fire escape plan in place, to be practised frequently. That said, people will still panic if faced with the real deal.
    I'm more curious about the fire …more» itself. I feel some sort of neglect may have been involved...how else to explain why at this time of night, the alarm wasn't sounded sooner, why the apartment resident didn't call for help before the apartment was engulfed? Unnoticed kitchen fire, unnoticed cigarette butt, who knows? I think there are a lot of blanks that could be filled in.«less

  • staypositive 2/4/2010 2:29:25 PM - Report Abuse

    It is the responsibility of each and everyone of us to be responsible for emergency preparedness. If you have other people that you are responsible for then it is even more important to know what to do. If you do not take responsibility for knowing what …more» to do in a fire, then who do you think should be responsible? If you can't take responsibility then you should be living with someone who can.«less

  • Chararm 2/4/2010 2:25:51 PM - Report Abuse

    I do agree with what you have to say Doreen and Phillip but you opinion is not well stated at all, actually it is pretty rude and ignorant! Regardless of all the preparation anybody has and depending on individual personalities people panic when fear …more» sets in. We did not see another person with a towel over their face but i bet you most of them know they should do that.. As well there is a lot of seniors in this building... I believe they could have benefited from more instruction and guidance... I am real happy that you have a good fire plan for your family and children..good for you... but instead of being on the attack of others expressing their honest opinions why don't you try to encourage others to make a fire plan. And if you have ever experienced any real tragedy or traumatic event you would know that all the planning sometimes gets thrown out the window when fear and panic sets in.«less

  • Phillip Morris 2/4/2010 1:50:13 PM - Report Abuse

    Well said Doreen.
    There is no excuse not to have a fire safety plan for your residence.
    Every October, the FD promotes having your own drill. It doesn't matter where you live, you should know your options.
    I've lived in a high rise condominium …more» in Toronto. Part of your deed is the evacuation plan. It is also posted throughout the building.
    Statements like "I wouldn't know what to do" is exactly what causes needless deaths. Putting rescue workers in danger to risk themselves for the few careless, lazy and dim-witted.
    Almost 100% of fire related deaths are preventable. The rarest being from sudden flash/explosions. Bottom line is if you're vigilant, have an operational smoke detector, and a calm exit plan, you will survive.«less

  • Grumpy Ole Man 2/4/2010 12:42:33 PM - Report Abuse

    Correctamundo Doreen.
    My 5 year old knows what to do in the event of smoke and/or fire.

  • Doreen 2/4/2010 12:33:42 PM - Report Abuse

    I'm appalled at the comments..."you would'nt know what to do" well then consider this tragedy to be a wake up call...educate yourself!
    Its nice that this apartment building had an intercom system, but for most of us we rely on the …more» smoke detectors sounding...and most people start teaching their children at a very young age on what to do if there is a fire.
    Its called taking responsibility for yourself.«less

  • bcarefulwutuwish4 2/4/2010 11:50:26 AM - Report Abuse

    To me just an opinion something isn't right here. I can possably understand a person passing away in the apt where the fire initialy broke out but another in a stairwell? It seems almost like there was a long sequence of time between the start of the …more» fire initaly and the evacuation. Hmmmm I'm not assuming anything but it's odd how the story explains it. This is a tragedy and probably was preventable to the deceased's loved ones I am very sorry for your loss.«less

  • geekt 2/4/2010 11:34:00 AM - Report Abuse

    That's terrible. I have two babies 2 and 8 months and I wouldn't have known what to do. I also am a nervous person and theres been many times where i've paniced and just went blank. In a case like that...my family could have died!. Glad to …more» hear your mom got out safe. Those big apartment buildings are a dangerous place to be!.«less

  • Chararm 2/4/2010 9:39:43 AM - Report Abuse

    This fire seems to be played down in the media to me. Yes, the fire may have been contained to one apt but the smoke filled the entire building. My mother who lives on the 15th floor had to fight through the smoke in the hallway as well as the stairwell …more» to save herself. She stated that the smoke was so thick that she could not see the walls or the floor. I fear that the fire evacuation may not have been handled well at all. The tenants were informed through the intercom to evacuate 2-3 times without any further instruction. My mom, a very nervous person was afraid but eventually did, grabbing a wet towel to cover her face. Now most residents in this building are senior citizens. The voice on the intercom did not mention to cover your mouth with a wet towel or give any further instructions to the tenants who at this point may be panicked.. My mother being fairly healthy made it out but some others were not as lucky. She remembers having to walk over 2-3 different people who appeared passed out in the stairwell.. Why were there no fire fighters in those stairwells helping the sick and elderly down. One elderly couple stepped aside to let my mother by as the stated that they are slow and may not make it. I am curious if this is how fires in large apt buildings are normally handled. I should also note that my mother left her web cam and mic on and her sister who was on the other end has informed us that shortly after my mother evacuated her apartment the voice over the intercom instructed residents to stay in their apartments as the smoke is to dangerous. When I arrived at the scene my mother was in a complete state of shock and even this morning she is still very traumatized by the whole experience.. she fears she may not be able to return to her apartment due to the anxiety and fear this horrible experience has caused her.«less

NorthernLife.ca Top 10