CHARLES TWEED/Ponoka News
You never expect it to happen to you.
Residents of North Bridge Suites were awakened abruptly on June 13 when a fire forced more than 10 people from their homes.
“I feel like I’ve aged a lot of years in one day,” said developer Colin Lowden in a shaky voice sitting at a picnic bench just feet away from the charred wreckage.
“I’m just glad everybody got out and there were no physical injuries,” said Lowden. “All of the fire design systems did what they were supposed to do and that’s why you can almost draw a line through it because it held it back.”
A sentiment echoed by Ponoka Fire Chief Ted Dillon.
“It was fully involved in two suites. Fire had come out the bottom suite and went up the outside and into the top one,” said Dillon. “What I’m really impressed with is that the fire wall did its job. It was good to see the fire stopped right there at the fire wall right on the roof.”
The 9-1-1 fire call came into Ponoka Fire Department just after 6 a.m. and after power was cut to the apartment, fire crews were hard at work putting the blaze out.
“The guys (Ponoka firefighters) handled it really well, made sure everyone was out of the building and accounted for,” said Dillon.
Insurance adjusters were on site within hours of the fire being extinguished but no ruling had been made on the cause of the fire.
Service groups have stepped up to make sure the residents have a place to stay and are well taken care of.
Debbie Lamey, Ponoka Rising Sun Clubhouse executive director, said anyone wishing to donate to help offset the costs incurred by displaced residents could contact the clubhouse at 403-783-5810.
One clubhouse member had already donated toothpaste and other necessities including close to $200 worth of clothes. Others were donating money to help with the simple costs of the massive amount of laundry that would have to be done to eliminate the odor of smoke.
Some residents were expected to be back in their suites as early as a day or two but for the residents of the damaged suites, it could be weeks or months before they’re able to move back home.