On May 25th in the afternoon I was at work and a co-worker walks up to me: "I don't want to alarm you, but Fraser Tower's on fire." He knew that's where I was living. I went outside and sure enough I could see black smoke coming from the tower. It's not that close to my work but it's a tall building and that smoke was hard to miss. I tried to call Megan at work but I was put on hold and then disconnected, and when I called back she had already left. She wasn't answering the cell and I found out later that it was because James had it--he was in Hay River for the day for work. Around 4:30, after about an hour of pacing around the store feeling helpless, Megan called. She was 
outside the apartment building along with many other tenants. I asked my boss if I could leave and another co-worker drove me there. I met up with Megan and we just stood outside for a while, watching the fire. It started on the balcony of the 14th floor, the top floor. That floor is a little different than the rest: all it is is a penthouse suite and meeting rooms. Megan and James' apartment is on the 13th floor. A helicopter had started dropping buckets of water on the roof and after a while the smoke stopped and the fire was out. The firemen then had to go up and give the ok for people to go inside the building again. That took a while. The cat, Poe, didn't get out of the apartment because none of us were home when the fire started. We were all at work. So she was the most important thing in there that we were worried about. The firemen went up to get her, and she was fine. Aside from being a little stinky, having a few black spots from dirt, and being scared out of her mind, she was fine. After being reunited with Poe, Megan and I went to walmart to get some cat supplies, then went down by the lake. When James got in from work he called and then came over too. We checked into a hotel that they set us up with and then went back to Walmart to get some essentials like toothbrushes, pyjamas, deodorant. That sure made me realize how often I take advantage of little things like that. At that point we didn't know how damaged the apartment was or when we were going to be allowed back in. Late that night they started escorting people up to their apartments. The power was completely off and of course the elevators were not working, so we walked up the 13 flights of stairs for the first time. James took some pictures of the place, we unplugged everything, checked out how damaged it was, and got some things that we needed to get us through the next couple days. We were incredibly lucky. More than that--so blessed. It could have been so much worse in so many ways. James' mother was visiting and was living in the penthouse. She left the day before. We basically didn't lose anything. The carpets and floor were soaking wet, and water was coming in through some seams in the ceiling. Everything reaked. But all our electronics, clothes, books...everything seems like it'll be salvageable. Pretty incredible considering the fire was right above us. Still, everything needs to be taken out of the apartment and washed. They have good insurance so any damage that was done should be able to be claimed. Megan and James both took the rest of the week off work, so during the days they've been up to the apartment many times and dragging stuff down. Now we're staying at another place for a while. How long we don't know yet. They're in the process of figuring out their next moves.
outside the apartment building along with many other tenants. I asked my boss if I could leave and another co-worker drove me there. I met up with Megan and we just stood outside for a while, watching the fire. It started on the balcony of the 14th floor, the top floor. That floor is a little different than the rest: all it is is a penthouse suite and meeting rooms. Megan and James' apartment is on the 13th floor. A helicopter had started dropping buckets of water on the roof and after a while the smoke stopped and the fire was out. The firemen then had to go up and give the ok for people to go inside the building again. That took a while. The cat, Poe, didn't get out of the apartment because none of us were home when the fire started. We were all at work. So she was the most important thing in there that we were worried about. The firemen went up to get her, and she was fine. Aside from being a little stinky, having a few black spots from dirt, and being scared out of her mind, she was fine. After being reunited with Poe, Megan and I went to walmart to get some cat supplies, then went down by the lake. When James got in from work he called and then came over too. We checked into a hotel that they set us up with and then went back to Walmart to get some essentials like toothbrushes, pyjamas, deodorant. That sure made me realize how often I take advantage of little things like that. At that point we didn't know how damaged the apartment was or when we were going to be allowed back in. Late that night they started escorting people up to their apartments. The power was completely off and of course the elevators were not working, so we walked up the 13 flights of stairs for the first time. James took some pictures of the place, we unplugged everything, checked out how damaged it was, and got some things that we needed to get us through the next couple days. We were incredibly lucky. More than that--so blessed. It could have been so much worse in so many ways. James' mother was visiting and was living in the penthouse. She left the day before. We basically didn't lose anything. The carpets and floor were soaking wet, and water was coming in through some seams in the ceiling. Everything reaked. But all our electronics, clothes, books...everything seems like it'll be salvageable. Pretty incredible considering the fire was right above us. Still, everything needs to be taken out of the apartment and washed. They have good insurance so any damage that was done should be able to be claimed. Megan and James both took the rest of the week off work, so during the days they've been up to the apartment many times and dragging stuff down. Now we're staying at another place for a while. How long we don't know yet. They're in the process of figuring out their next moves. As for the building, they're allowing people to go up whenever they want with an escort, and they're saying people on the lower floors will be able to move back in soon--once the power is back up and running and the elevators have been approved. The upper floors will be longer though, obviously. They're offering to move people on the top floors down to lower floors until their rooms are back to normal. The hotel and staff are really doing a lot for the people.
This has really made me realize how quickly things can change. A few days ago Megan asked me to help paint a wooden planter she had gotten for the balcony. Also on the balcony are two new patio chairs that they've been looking for for a year and finally just found. They recently got a gorgeous new bed. Plans for after work that day vanished. The daily routine didn't exist anymore. Megan coming in my room in the morning before work to get clothes that were still in there would no longer happen. Eating dinner around the living room table will now change. My route to and from work is different. It's just insane how fast things can change, and how we make all these plans for the future that just aren't meant to happen, and how much security we put in knowing what's going to happen and how. It's eye-opening.
This experience also makes me appreciate so many things. Little things like I mentioned, like the comforts of home, having napkins at supper, a toothbrush, the convenience of waking up and having clothes to pick from for the day, my ipod when I want to listen to music, an apple I can grab from the fruit bowl for breakfast. And the support people give! Co-workers that I had known for only a week were offering to drive me places, telling me to call if I ever needed anything, asking me what's happening and how things are going, dealing with my slight panic. Family calling me, coming in to see me to check up on me, offering anything at all that I may need. Megan and James' friends, who I met that day, hugging me, driving me places, offering food and telephone numbers to call any time of the day. Everyone involved: thank you so much. I really appreciate everything.
It's crazy, I feel like by the way people are acting something much worse has happened. Not that it's not bad--I mean Megan and James now have to completely pack the apartment and make new plans. I know that's what it seems like by what I've said, but that's just how it feels.
So that's basically the story for that. They don't know yet what started the fire. There are lots of rumours, but they're just rumours. I haven't heard of the real reason yet. Did I miss anything? If anyone has a question just ask. I might not know the answer but I can try. There's stuff up on youtube and other places too if you want to google it. Any search about the Coast Fraser tower on fire will bring up results. Here's one with lots of pictures:
Thanks for the link to YkOnline :)
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