By Jess T.
A quick-thinking 21-year-old man is being praised for saving the lives of more than 100 residents after a blaze tore through a Sutton townhouse complex early Monday morning.
James Slatcher, who was visiting from Fenelon Falls, was tossing around a basketball with his friend shortly after 2 a.m. when he smelled something burning.
“I noticed a bunch of smoke and I was just thinking ‘Oh, that’s not right,’ ” Slatcher said outside the Sutton Youth Shelter, where displaced residents stayed for most of the day.
Slatcher darted into the burning complex and grabbed his sister, nephew and niece from a first-floor apartment.
He then ran back, pulled the fire alarm and began knocking on all 36 units.
“I wasn’t really thinking. I was just getting as many people out as I could,” said Slatcher, who helped families and their pets escape the fire as authorities raced to the scene.
More than 11 people were living in one of the units, with seven children under the age of 5 sharing a room, police said.
No injuries were reported but some families lost animals to the fire.
Wayne Newton was sleeping in his second-floor apartment when he heard the alarm go off. The 57-year-old man thought it was a false alarm at first, until he heard Slatcher’s frantic knocking.
“I immediately got dressed, grabbed my cat and ran out the door,” said Newton, who has lived in the complex 12 years. False alarms are a common occurrence, he said, adding there was a grease fire in the building just last year.
Newton said he was worried about his lost possessions but was relieved his homeowner’s insurance will likely cover most of the cost.
Other residents are not so lucky. Ed Avis and his common-law partner moved into the building two months ago and were planning to purchase insurance later this month.
Avis mourned the loss of his jewellery, but it’s the photos of his mother, who died last March, that he misses the most.
“We lost everything. I also lost a brother-in-law just before that,” said Avis. “We’re going through hell.”
Authorities said 16 units were destroyed while the rest suffered smoke and water damage. York Region police escorted some residents back into the building on Monday afternoon to retrieve personal belongings.
However, the extent of the damage may leave residents homeless for weeks.
“The building is pretty much totally destroyed. What’s left is not even safe to return to,” said Sgt. David Riches. “It could have been a catastrophe.”
Residents said the building was a low-rent co-op with a history of problems, including exposed electrical wires and false fire alarms.
Police said the fire alarm system was functional, but was old and not equipped with a sprinkler system.
“If it was a modern building, I’m sure the damage would have been less severe,” said Riches.
Police don’t suspect foul play, but the cause is under investigation.
The OSPCA, Red Cross, Salvation Army and community members arrived at the Sutton Youth Shelter throughout the day with animal supplies, clothes and food for residents.
Shelter chaplain Grant Verdoold said community leaders, including Georgina Mayor Rob Grossi, will meet at the shelter on Tuesday to assess residents’ needs. They will be temporarily housed in local motels, Verdoold said.
A person hanging by the parking lot Monday afternoon yelled out “Hero!” when Slatcher returned to the shelter. But the bashful student shrugged off the compliment.
“It’s been pretty crazy. I have no words to say. I’m probably just going to relax and hang out with my family,” he said. “It’s just hitting me now.”
A quick-thinking 21-year-old man is being praised for saving the lives of more than 100 residents after a blaze tore through a Sutton townhouse complex early Monday morning.
James Slatcher, who was visiting from Fenelon Falls, was tossing around a basketball with his friend shortly after 2 a.m. when he smelled something burning.
“I noticed a bunch of smoke and I was just thinking ‘Oh, that’s not right,’ ” Slatcher said outside the Sutton Youth Shelter, where displaced residents stayed for most of the day.
Slatcher darted into the burning complex and grabbed his sister, nephew and niece from a first-floor apartment.
He then ran back, pulled the fire alarm and began knocking on all 36 units.
“I wasn’t really thinking. I was just getting as many people out as I could,” said Slatcher, who helped families and their pets escape the fire as authorities raced to the scene.
More than 11 people were living in one of the units, with seven children under the age of 5 sharing a room, police said.
No injuries were reported but some families lost animals to the fire.
Wayne Newton was sleeping in his second-floor apartment when he heard the alarm go off. The 57-year-old man thought it was a false alarm at first, until he heard Slatcher’s frantic knocking.
“I immediately got dressed, grabbed my cat and ran out the door,” said Newton, who has lived in the complex 12 years. False alarms are a common occurrence, he said, adding there was a grease fire in the building just last year.
Newton said he was worried about his lost possessions but was relieved his homeowner’s insurance will likely cover most of the cost.
Other residents are not so lucky. Ed Avis and his common-law partner moved into the building two months ago and were planning to purchase insurance later this month.
Avis mourned the loss of his jewellery, but it’s the photos of his mother, who died last March, that he misses the most.
“We lost everything. I also lost a brother-in-law just before that,” said Avis. “We’re going through hell.”
Authorities said 16 units were destroyed while the rest suffered smoke and water damage. York Region police escorted some residents back into the building on Monday afternoon to retrieve personal belongings.
However, the extent of the damage may leave residents homeless for weeks.
“The building is pretty much totally destroyed. What’s left is not even safe to return to,” said Sgt. David Riches. “It could have been a catastrophe.”
Residents said the building was a low-rent co-op with a history of problems, including exposed electrical wires and false fire alarms.
Police said the fire alarm system was functional, but was old and not equipped with a sprinkler system.
“If it was a modern building, I’m sure the damage would have been less severe,” said Riches.
Police don’t suspect foul play, but the cause is under investigation.
The OSPCA, Red Cross, Salvation Army and community members arrived at the Sutton Youth Shelter throughout the day with animal supplies, clothes and food for residents.
Shelter chaplain Grant Verdoold said community leaders, including Georgina Mayor Rob Grossi, will meet at the shelter on Tuesday to assess residents’ needs. They will be temporarily housed in local motels, Verdoold said.
A person hanging by the parking lot Monday afternoon yelled out “Hero!” when Slatcher returned to the shelter. But the bashful student shrugged off the compliment.
“It’s been pretty crazy. I have no words to say. I’m probably just going to relax and hang out with my family,” he said. “It’s just hitting me now.”
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