Red Cross assists residents displaced by apartment fire

Residents affected by this morning's fatal fire on Albert Street West are being helped by the Canadian Red Cross.

Fire officials say they responded to 544 Albert Street West around 6:24 a.m. after someone called 9-1-1 to report the fire.

Sault Ste. Marie Fire Services confirms one person died as a result of the fire. The fire victim, a 52-year-old man, has not been identified.

The Office of the Fire Marshal has taken over the investigation. Sault Ste. Marie Police Service investigators are assisting with the investigation.

The Canadian Red Cross was called out around 7:30 a.m. to help those displaced.

“We’re going to provide the basic needs at least for tonight and possibly the next couple days after that,” said Beverly McCoy, of the Canadian Red Cross.

She said volunteers were working with residents to find out what medications and other essential belongings needed to be retrieved from the building.

One resident who lives close to the unit where the fire took place told SooToday she was awakened by the smoke.

Tom Foffey said he works in welding and doesn't have a good sense of smell when it comes to smoke. It was the building's fire alarm that first signaled to him something was wrong, he said.

"When I opened the door the halls were filled with smoke," he said.

He said he started yelling for help and "a couple of firefighters grabbed me and helped me down."

Foffey, who said he lives above the unit where the fire appears to have happened, said he considers himself lucky firefighters were able to get to him.

"If the flames broke out up the stairs I would have been trapped. I'm glad they heard me," said Foffey.

He said he had only lived at the building a short time and did not know the man who died well. 

"He was a good-natured guy. We had a few beers now and again," said Foffey.

"It's a sad thing."