Fire displaces 22 seniors and destroys food bank in St George

Fire Displaces Residents at Seniors Housing Complex in St. George

A fire at a seniors housing complex in St. George has displaced 22 residents and a food bank.

The fire broke out on Sunday morning at the Granite Court building, owned by the not-for-profit Atlantic Baptist Housing.

Firefighters responded around 8:00 a.m. They were able to extinguish the fire and save part of the building. Victor Shea, CEO of Atlantic Baptist Housing, stated that everyone was evacuated safely.

The building is located about 70 kilometres west of Saint John. It is split into two sections, with one section suffering more damage from the fire.

Plans for Residents and Food Bank

Shea mentioned that the plan is to move 12 residents back into the less damaged section of the building by the end of the week. He added that they will work with the remaining 10 residents to find temporary housing while staff determine a timeline for repairs.

“These are our people and we’re going to care for them. Nobody’s going to be on the street after this. We’re going to make sure that we do the right thing,” said Shea.

Atlantic Baptist Housing owns affordable housing for seniors and long-term care homes that serve over 1,000 seniors in the Maritimes.

Impact on Community Services

Shea noted that the cause of the fire is still unknown. The blaze has affected more than just the 22 residents. The complex also housed an optometrist’s office, autism services, the Eastern Charlotte Association for Community Living, and the St. George and Area Food Bank.

Tony Munn, chair of the community living association and president of the food bank, reported that the food bank’s stock was destroyed in the fire, except for the relocated meat freezers. Munn estimates the loss to be around $75,000.

He stated that the community has stepped in to help. “The community has been great, giving donations constantly this morning and last night. There’s a big food drive going on here Saturday morning,” said Munn.

The food bank is now temporarily operating out of the St. George Masonic Lodge.

The Eastern Charlotte Association for Community Living supports around 30 people with disabilities in the community. Munn mentioned that the organization has relocated to St. Mark’s Anglican Church.

Community Response and Housing Concerns

Jason Gaudet, CAO for the Municipality of Eastern Charlotte, which includes St. George, said many in the community have offered help. He expressed concern about finding long-term housing for the 10 residents who cannot return to the seniors complex this week.

“How do you support that?” he asked. “There is a limitation of housing in Eastern Charlotte, and that’s a concern.”

Gaudet stated that the municipality is offering support to Atlantic Baptist Housing and the St. George and Area Food Bank.