Port Hardy firefighters put their training to use this week when they rescued a woman from a burning apartment unit Wednesday afternoon.
Just after 2:15 p.m., Port Hardy Fire Rescue responded to a structure fire at the New Horizon Apartments complex on Highland Drive. Once there, firefighters found a rapidly growing fire in a ground-level unit.
As emergency services arrived, residents of the apartment rushed out to tell firefighters that there was a woman still trapped inside the unit where the blaze was located.
“People came running at me,” said Port Hardy Fire Chief Brent Borg.
Once they knew someone was still inside, firefighters on the scene forced down the door of the blazing unit, performed a search, and located the woman. She was then lead out of the building and transferred to hospital.
Meanwhile, other firefighters were dealing with the flames themselves, quickly bringing down the fire and containing it to a single unit before fully extinguishing it.
The resident were able to return to their homes after the fire was cleared and the apartment complex was ventilated.
All in all, the process took just under two hours.
“This evening we would like to thank our firefighters for their commendable efforts and work, which helped save the apartment complex as well as a life,” said Port Hardy Fire Rescue in a Facebook post. “We also thank the BC RCMP, BC Ambulance Service, and BC Hydro for their assistance on scene, as well as Port McNeill Fire Rescue for standing by in case mutual aid was needed.”
The post ended with a safety reminder for people who live in large residential buildings.
“Finally, we would like to remind the public and occupants of apartment complexes to not ignore fire alarms—when the alarm sounds, evacuate, no questions asked.”
