Four Displaced After Fire Heavily Damages Lincoln Apartment Building

A fire that broke out on the evening of Saturday on Lincoln Road, just outside Fredericton, has left four people without a home after a multi-unit building sustained significant damage. According to the Oromocto Fire Department, crews received the emergency call at approximately 6:30 p.m., reporting a fire on the property known as the Airport Inn.

Assistant Deputy Chief Jerry Poirier stated that firefighters were able to bring the situation under control by nearly 8 p.m. No injuries were reported as a result of the fire. The incident prompted a response that involved securing the safety of the building’s residents and preventing further spread of the flames to adjacent structures.

The building affected was a single-storey structure with an attached garage. The garage was destroyed by the fire and was located only a few feet away from an eight-unit building that was fully rented at the time of the incident. Firefighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading to this neighbouring building, although some exterior stairs and siding there sustained damage. A resident’s pickup truck was also damaged in the fire.

The investigation into the origin of the fire has concluded. Poirier said that the cause remains undetermined, but there is no evidence to suggest malicious or criminal intent. He described the outcome as being less severe than it could have been, given the proximity of other buildings and the potential for greater loss.

Yingchun Su, the owner of the two affected buildings for over two decades, expressed relief that there were no injuries. She described being notified of the incident by a friend and arriving on scene to find fire crews responding. Su emphasized that the most important outcome was that everyone was awake and able to evacuate safely.

Su is currently working with her insurance company to determine the next steps for the damaged property. Immediate efforts have focused on repairing the exterior stairs and siding of the eight-unit building to ensure ongoing safety and habitability for the remaining residents.

A third building on the property, known as the Airport Inn, was not impacted by the fire. Su noted that she sold this particular building in the previous summer following an inspection by the Department of Justice and Public Safety, which led to the power and water being disconnected at that time.

The fire has left four individuals in need of alternative accommodation. Local authorities have not indicated any further threat to the surrounding area, and there are no ongoing criminal investigations related to the incident.

The incident underscores the potential risks associated with attached structures and the challenges of fire containment in multi-unit residential properties. While damage to property was significant, the absence of injuries was highlighted by both officials and the property owner as a positive outcome.

As the insurance process moves forward and repairs are undertaken, the long-term implications for the affected residents and the future of the property remain to be determined. The fire department’s findings and the swift response are expected to inform any future safety or preventive measures at similar properties in the region.