We're still waiting to hear what caused a massive blaze at the housing complex at Blanshard and Hillside last week.
Victoria Councilor Ben Isitt says they need to make sure the units are safe for fire investigators. "At this stage I'm hearing that they still need to get an assessment for the stability of the building before sending the fire investigators in.”
In the meantime, housing is being arranged for the 35 people who were displaced. BC Housing has committed to finding new homes and emergency accommodation is being extended to a week. Isitt says, comapred to previous fires such at the View Towers blaze in 2014, the effots to help the residents has been improved. "There's been, I think, much better coordination between various agencies, supported by the city, to ensure the immediate needs of the displaced people... are looked after."
There's a donation box set up here at C-FAX, set up by C-FAX Santas Anonymous, to help those residents.
The fire happened Friday morning at the housing complex formally known as Blanshard Court, on Blanshard at Hillside.