New details in devastating Kitchener townhouse fire
Investigators are sharing new details about Wednesday’s townhouse fire in Kitchener.
Three units on Green Valley Drive have extensive damage, and the residents of six townhouse units have been displaced.
Officials say it could be weeks – or months – before some of them can return home.
“Last night I was trying to sleep [but] I couldn’t sleep,” Maria Suing, one of the affected residents, said on Thursday. “My mind was so awake.”
MORE: Delivery driver describes his efforts to alert residents of townhouse fire
She’s trying to figure out what’s next for her family after flames tore through theirhome.
Suing said someone banged on her door to alert her to the fire.
“I was scared. So what I did was just grab my bag, my purse with my IDs. I just wore my rubber shoes and that’s it. I wasn’t able to grab anything else.”
She’s still coming to terms with what happened Wednesday.
“This is a tragedy which I thought I’d watch on the news and read in the papers,” added Suing. “Never to happen to us.”
None of the residents were injured but some pets still haven’t been found.
“The only thing I’m thankful for is nobody was harmed,” Suing said.
INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY
The Ontario Fire Marshall’s office was at the Green Valley Drive townhouse on Thursday and called the damage “extensive.”
“It’s fairly substantial,” said OFM investigator Clive Hubbard. “It’s probably going to be upwards of a $1,000,000 claim.”
Three townhouse units are heavily damaged, while the other three have smoke damage.
Investigators are still trying to determine where and how the fire started.
However, they don’t believe it was suspicious.
In a media release sent out Wednesday night, Waterloo regional police stated the fire started on a deck and spread rapidly to the unit next door.
When residents will be allowed to return to their homes is still unclear, but it’s likely to be gradual process.
“It’s my hope that two or three of them will be able to return at some point, either later this week, or later on in the month,” said Hubbard. “I would think that the three units that are most affected by this fire will be out for a substantial period of time.”
Suing and her husband are bracing for what could be a long wait.
“They’re saying probably eight months or six months, so there’s nothing really definite,” she said.
The couple is currently staying at Conestoga College’s Residence & Conference Centre.
“That’s where we’re living, and we will explore other places to live because it’s going to be expensive,” Suing said.
Security staff remain at the scene to keep local residents away from the damaged homes.
The OFM is expected to wrap up their investigation by Thursday night.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Canada Disability Benefit needs to be safeguarded from clawbacks, MPs unanimously agree
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
Testifying in hush money trial, adult film actor Stormy Daniels describes first meeting Trump
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential election 10 years later.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Turfing Poilievre from House a clear sign of desperation by Trudeau Liberals
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
Security guard shot, seriously injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.
Katy Perry's mom was fooled by AI images of the singer at the Met Gala
Katy Perry did not attend the Met Gala on Monday, but some of the singer’s fans – and even her mom – thought she did.
Your body needs these three forms of movement every week
Movement is movement, right? Not exactly. Here’s what your body is looking for in addition to your morning walk or yoga session, according to experts.