August 25 gave us the bad: Someone set a fire that displaced everyone in a Chatham apartment building at a time when housing is in dire shortage.
What followed was the good: The massive outpouring of support from the community that is rallying around the residents of 99 McNaughton Ave. W.
That’s Chatham-Kent in a nutshell. We have some bad, or troubled eggs, but they sure as heck don’t spoil the entire carton.
Response to the people who were left without a home in the wake of the fire at the 120-unit building was immediate. The Chatham Lions jumped into action right away and are fundraising at this time to provide additional support.
Two other apartments, owned by Skyline, are taking donations on behalf of the misplaced residents, as is Betty Brite on Keil Drive.
FreeHelpCK are living up to their name, offering assistance and collecting items to deliver to those in need.
The residents left with only what they could carry. Five days after the fire, when the investigation led to the arson determination and an arrest, Chatham-Kent Fire & Rescue personnel began working to get some people back into the building to grab what they could.
Of the 120 units, 90 suffered damage. There has been severe fire damage to the mechanical room, as well as some parts of the building, while other sections have been damaged to a lesser extent by water and smoke.
It’s a mess, uninhabitable. Even the unaffected units remain vacant, as there is no power to the building.
But citizens, and the municipality, stepped up. Temporary housing was quickly found, and a stopgap shelter is being established in the former St. Agnes school.
It’s not a perfect solution, but not much could be in the wake of such a tragedy. We at The Voice are glad that no one was killed in the blaze and encourage everyone who can to please donate in some way. Clothing, toiletries, non-perishable food … whatever you can will help.
We are confident the people will be taken care of. It’s what C-K and its citizens do.
