11 pulled from unsafe home

Photo: Contributed - Wil Munton

A group of 11 in Enderby, including four children, are homeless after their residence was deemed unsafe.

An order to evacuate has been posted on the residential portion of 509 Mill Ave. 

According to the City of Enderby, the decision was made based on conditions found following a joint fire and building inspection.

“These conditions placed occupants – some of whom are very vulnerable – in significant danger,” says Tate Bengtson, chief administrative officer for the city.

Assistant to the fire city's commissioner, Kevin Alstad, described the building as “a hazard requiring the immediate removal of the occupants for their own safety."

The residential part of the building was being used as a boarding area that was rented to 11 individuals, including the four children.

“There is no fire separation between any of the rooms, between the rooms and the hallway corridor, or between the sleeping area and the retail use occurring at the front of the building,” explains Bengston. “There are no windows to provide a means of escape if a fire were to occur. There is no fire alarm system and no smoke alarms in the sleeping rooms.”

He goes on to say that batteries were removed from the smoke alarms that were in place, and combustible materials were piled inside the building. A leaking roof and mold growth were also observed.

“The ceiling of the basement and crawl space had no fire protective finish,” adds Bengston. “Ceiling tiles had been removed so that additional combustible materials could be stored in ceiling spaces. Various ignition sources were observed on the premises. The conditions in the premises were in an overall unsanitary state.”

The city is working with the Enderby & District Community Resource Centre, Ministry of Children and Families and Interior Health to ensure the displaced occupants have access to social support to help transition them into safe living conditions.

“The decision to post a Do Not Occupy notice and an Order to Evacuate ... was difficult but necessary,” says Bengston. “It involved weighing a potential loss of life due to unsafe conditions against displacing people from their home. The risk of a loss of life was our overriding concern.”

The Vernon Fire Rescue hazardous materials response team was also called in after a strong chemical odour was detected during the inspection of the basement.

Following that investigation, the RCMP have now taken control of the scene.