'It's not safe' Fort McMurray apartment fire leaves city shaken

After feeling the blistering heat of a downtown apartment fire on his face,BachirKourani says heno longer feels safe in FortMcMurray.

"I'm nervous now," saidKourani. "It was right next to my store, andnext to my house."

Kouraniwas outside his downtown apartment buildingcutting the grass Monday night when a plume of thick, black smoke came into viewless than a block away.

Already on edge, having just returned home from the Fort McMurray wildfireevacuation in early May,Kouranifearedthat the flames Monday were coming from his business, atobacco shop on the city's main street Franklin Avenue.

He rushed over on foot, and soon realizedthe neighbouring apartment building, Cassia Manor, had erupted in flames.

Within minutes, thefour-storeycomplex was a wall of roaring red flame, and the heat was so suffocatingthe siding on neighbouring buildings started to melt and peel away.

"The temperature from the fire was crazy," Kourani said. "You couldn't even stand over there. It was crazy."

Although his business remains intact,Kouranisaidthe blaze has left him shaken. His wife and two young daughters who remain in Edmonton have become so fearfulthey've decided to delay their returnto FortMcMurray.

"They were planning on coming today, but when they saw the video (of the fire) now they've changed their mind.They're not coming back," Kourani said."They got scared, because I have young children."

The cause of the apartment fire remains under investigation. Butthis latest blazehas Kouraniquestioning whether the city is truly prepared forresidents to return.

"It's not safe," he said. "They have to check everything to make sure it's safe before everybody comes back.

RCMP say the apartment fire, which erupted just days after residentsreturned to the wildfire-ravaged city, was likely accidental.

"Fire investigators have advised the RCMP that it did not appear suspicious at that time last night," said Cpl.George Cameron Tuesday morning."However, they're going to continue with their investigation this morning."

Fire rips through Fort McMurray complex

8 years ago

Duration 0:39

An apartment complex in Fort McMurray erupts in flames just a few days after residents were allowed back into the wildfire-ravaged city

It took more than an hour before firefighters were able to controlthe fire, which originatedinside the complex,located downtownnear Prairie Loop Boulevard and Franklin Avenue,

"Unfortunately, the apartment complex was completely destroyed and some surrounding buildings, from what we have been told, received minor damagefrom melting siding and that sort of thing," said Cameron.

Due to smoke damage from the wildfires, tenants had not yet been allowed to return to the building. But cleaning crews had been on site earlier that afternoon. Emergency officials could not say how many people live in the building.

Fort McMurray apartment fire, video by Jeff Peddle

8 years ago

Duration 0:27

A large apartment complex in downtown Fort McMurray burns, just days after residents started returning to the city.

"Thank goodness there were no reported injuries," Cameron said.

Fire officials saythat the apartment fire was unrelated to the wildfires, and that their investigation continues.