Yorkton apartment fire possibly related to arson: Fire chief
Emergency crews remained on the scene of an apartment fire in Yorkton, Sask. on Tuesday afternoon that could be connected to arson.
Yorkton Fire Chief Trevor Morrissey said emergency crews first responded to a separate fire Monday night that firefighters were able to completely put out.
RCMP have confirmed the first fire was not suspicious.
“We were at this location last night, the fire was out and this fire started in a totally different place,” he said.
Crews then responded to a second fire around 4:30 a.m. Tuesday. This time the building was completely engulfed in flames.
The second blaze may have been arson, according to Morrissey.
“We are fairly certain it’s [been set] by hand, there was evidence of an intrusion when we came back,” Morrissey said.
(Stacey Hein/CTV News)
Morrissey said right now there are no casualties but added that could change once more searches are conducted.
“Firefighters got halfway through a secondary search, but there was an explosion on the second floor, so we had to stop there,” he said.
Two people trapped on the building’s third floor were saved by rescuers, according to Morrissey.
Meanwhile, residents near the apartment complex have been asked to evacuate due to a natural gas leak that could escalate to an explosion.
Daniel Lerat said he has lived on the second floor of the building, known as Riverview Place, for almost a year and is still in disbelief.
“I’m still in shock, I’m still processing it. It’s a big loss, especially this time of year,” Lerat said.
He said he has lost everything to the fire.
A local business called Extravadance is accepting donations at its’ Yorkton, Canora and Preeceville locations for thos who lost property in the fire. The owner, Kristin Webber, woke up Tuesday morning and decided to help after she heard the news.
“Basically, if you look around your house and anything you have, they have none of that,” she said.
Organizations such as the Red Cross, Victim Services and the nearby Yorkton Alliance church have also helped the displaced residents.
Fire crews remained on scene until Tuesday evening.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre will do 'anything to win,' must condemn Alex Jones endorsement: Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is ramping up his attacks on Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre as he promotes his government's federal budget.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
New evidence challenges the Pentagon's account of a horrific attack as the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan: CNN exclusive
New video evidence uncovered by CNN significantly undermines two Pentagon investigations into an ISIS-K suicide attack outside Kabul airport, during the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.
Video shows suspects waving weapons, smashing glass in Toronto jewelry store robbery
Arrests have been made after five men were captured on video rampaging through a jewelry store in Toronto, waving weapons and smashing glass display cases.
Pilot proposes to flight attendant girlfriend in front of passengers
A Polish pilot proposed to his flight attendant girlfriend during a flight from Warsaw to Krakow, and she said yes.
Ottawa injects another $36M into fund for those seriously injured or killed by vaccines
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Ex-SNC executive sentenced to prison term in bridge bribery case
The RCMP says a former SNC-Lavalin executive has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison in connection with a bribery scheme for a bridge repair contract in Montreal.