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“It looked like they fell feet first and were on grass,” said Doebert. His wife remembered the time because the couple pulled over and she tried to call 911 right after she saw the fall, said Doebert.
Fire crews escorted at least one person from a top-floor unit via a fire ladder. It appeared to be an elderly man, said a witness.
Paramedics treated multiple people outside the apartment building. Six patients in stable condition and one patient in serious condition were taken to hospital by ground ambulance.
“One other patient, in critical condition, was cared for by our critical-care team and flown by air ambulance to a higher level of care facility,” B.C. Emergency Health Services said in a statement.
Fire crews from North Cowichan, Southend, Maple Bay, Crofton and Duncan fought the fire.
The apartments are low-budget, said Doebert. “It’s going to be hard for many to find new reasonably priced places to live.”
Calls to police and fire officials were not immediately returned on Friday.
Lyle Jordan started a fundraiser on GoFundMe for the residents of about 34 units displaced by the fire. Almost $10,000 had been raised by Friday evening. Others delivered bedding and clothing to Jordan directly.
“Hundreds of calls of support for this horrible situation” had been received, Jordan said.
The primary aim for all funds raised is to directly help victims with accommodation, food, clothing, and special-item needs, Jordan said in a message on GoFundMe
Any additional funds will go toward recovery efforts of those injured and to assist with “any bills that they may have during a time where income is suspended due to injury or disability resulting from this incident,” said Jordan.
Read more Island news at timescolonist.com
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