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$2 million estimated damage to senior's lodge after overnight fire

The Bow Valley Senior’s Lodge in Canmore caught fire overnight causing up to $2 million in damages.
Canmore fire department members work on the charred remains of the northeast wing at the Bow Valley Seniors Lodge, which caught fire overnight .
Canmore fire department members work on the charred remains of the northeast wing at the Bow Valley Seniors Lodge, which caught fire overnight .

The Bow Valley Senior’s Lodge in Canmore caught fire overnight causing up to $2 million in damages.

All residents of the wing that went up in flames overnight were safely evacuated according to Bow Valley Regional Housing chief administrative officer Ian Wilson.

He said 16 people out of 15 units have been displaced as a result of the fire and water damage with the rest of the facility is still operational and has not been evacuated.

However, many residents of the 60 unit lodge are concerned, confused and visibly upset as a result of the experience.

“What we are doing right now is working on comforting people,” he said adding the lodge is not a care facility but provides independent living for seniors.

As a result Wilson said it is expected friends and family will accommodate those displaced by the fire. If that does not work out, he said, then BVRH and Alberta Housing, which owns the facility, will work with them to find an appropriate situation.

“We have been able to accommodate everyone in the short term, the long term is one of our next challenges,” he said.

Wilson said the lodge conducts monthly fire drills, which may seem tedious but this time paid off for residents and staff in the middle of the night.

“We have drills every month… that made a difference,” he said adding staff went door-to-door in case anyone had taken their hearing aid out to sleep. “They did great – between staff, residents and the fire department it is a miracle.”

Fire Chief Todd Sikorsky estimated the damage at up to $2 million and said fire crews were dispatched at 3:30 a.m.

On arrival fire crews encountered a ceiling fire with six to eight units engulfed in flames reaching up to 100 feet in the air. The cause is still under investigation.

Three fire trucks from Canmore and one from Banff responded with 25 fire fighters on scene. Two were sent to hospital for smoke inhalation.

“We were able to stop the fire in the northeast wing and had all the seniors evacuated,” he said. “We were actually very fortunate because this is one of the most difficult structures to respond to because of mobility issues (for seniors).”

Eight units have fire damage and another 10 to 15 water damage.

Danny Hagel’s mother Esther is one of those displaced by the fire. He said her unit is one with water damage and family and friends will be taking care of her.

John Brumfit, resident at the lodge, was surprised at the extent of the damage once he got outside late in the morning.

Brumfit’s unit is not damaged by the fire but as it began burning he was woken up by staff and moved to another part of the facility.

“I was sleeping like a log,” he said. “The next thing I know I’m being shaken by a caregiver and told to get up.”

Wilson said already the community is reaching out to support the seniors but as it is early assessing the damage and nothing immediate is required.

However once they have a handle on the situation he said BVRH may reach out for support and will let the community know what it needs.


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