Caledonia fire update

It could be weeks before the residents at a Caledonia apartment building can return home, after being forced to leave following a Saturday morning fire.

The fire on Argyle St. took two lives and the cause for the blaze will not be known until Tuesday.

The damaged from the blaze is estimated at $250,000.

The fire alarms in the complex are working, but the Ontario Fire Marshal still has to inspect the smoke detector in the apartment unit where both Donna and Jerry Lapierre, the two killed in the fire lived.

Industrial cleaning crews spent most of Sunday removing debris and disinfecting smoke damaged walls.

The Haldimand Community Support Centre has now stepped in to provide the necessities; residents can replace their damaged clothing, receive crisis counselling and eat a healthy meal, while waiting to return home.

“Monday morning, we’ll provide a breakfast for them, lunches for the kids to go to school,” Linda Jewell of Helping Hands of Haldimand said “and continue until they’re back in their homes.”

Donations of clothing and money can be dropped off at the Caledonia Community Foundation in the Haldimand-Norfolk Community Support Centre located at 102 Inverness St. For cheques, please note “Argyle Fire Relief Fund” on the back.

For questions about donations please contact 905-765-4408.