Police say there were no serious injuries or fatalities after a large fire consumed a retirement home in Mission, BC, on Monday evening.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene of the blaze at the Chartwell Carrington House retirement residence on 7th Avenue shortly before 6 pm.
“First responders rushed into the building and assisted the elderly residents out of the building as flames spread quickly,” explained an RCMP release.
During the initial response, residents were evacuated onto the street and a nearby church initially took some of them in.
Eventually, the City of Mission and BC Emergency Support Services managed to arrange space at the Mission Leisure Centre (MLC) for the dozens of seniors who had been evacuated.
The Coast Mountain Bus Company stepped up to transport the residents there on Monday night.
Once at the MLC, Emergency Health Services provided assessments and medical care to anyone who needed it.
While the vast majority were evacuated in the early stages of the response, the RCMP says one resident was later found alive in the stairwell of the retirement home and treated for smoke inhalation.
Police have now confirmed that around 100 residents of Chartwell Carrington House have been displaced by the fire, which is not believed to be criminal in nature.
Firefighters remain at the scene today extinguishing hot spots and investigating the cause of the blaze.
According to the RCMP, all displaced residents have now been either picked up by family members, put up in local hotels or relocated to other Chartwell retirement residences nearby.
