Courtenay council held a special meeting at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, in response to the early morning fire at the Travelodge Courtenay on Cliffe Avenue next to Driftwood Mall.
The B.C. Government has been using the motel to provide temporary supportive housing. At least 25 residents were displaced by the fire. One person was sent to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
READ: Early morning fire displaces residents at Courtenay motel
“This is certainly an evolving situation,” Mayor Bob Wells said. “We basically have all hands on deck trying to resolve it as quick as possible. I believe Emergency Services were involved as well. It sounds like it was a well co-ordinated, collaborative approach.”
Recognizing that some residents require urgent accommodation, council resolved to provide emergency shelter services for up to 10 individuals who were displaced.
Council also voted to exempt the Connect Warming Centre at 685 Cliffe Ave. from the BC Building Code, having deemed it to be a temporary emergency facility under the following conditions:
•Shelter services to be offered to displaced residents of the Travelodge Courtenay motel due to a fire;
•Shelter services to be offered to no more than 10 displaced individuals;
•Designate at least one staff member to conduct fire safety patrols during operating hours, and ensure staff are not assigned to other functions or responsibilities while on fire safety patrols;
•Ensure staff are trained by the Courtenay Fire Department on emergency procedures prior to shelter activation; and
•The building code exemption remain in effect until alternate accommodation can be found for displaced residents, or until Nov. 2, whichever comes first.
reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter