Tenants struggle in the aftermath of Reggie's Place fire (8 photos)

The ceiling of Reggie’s Place is torn up and there’s around twenty industrial sized fans scattered around the bar drying it out.

It will be about one month before Reggie’s Place is able to open and two months before the rented rooms above the bar are livable again says bar and building owner Reggie Daigle after a second floor fire happened Sunday at around 5 p.m.

Eight people that lived in rooms above the bar have been displaced.

A July 30 fire on the second floor above Reggie's Place has left eight people who were renting rooms there displaced. Some are staying above the other bar, others with family. Jeff Klassen/SooToday

Daigle said three of those people are now living in rooms above his other bar, Reggie’s West, another three are staying with family members, one is at a hotel, and another one he isn’t sure of.

Tina Anderson, 57, had been living above Reggie’s Place for over 20 years.

Anderson is disabled and lives without a phone and her whole life revolves around being downtown with access to familiar resources and people.

Anderson said the sudden shift across town has been upsetting.

Anderson said when she was eight years old her father died in a family house fire and the recent Reggie’s Place fire is bringing back traumatic memories.

“We were only young when it happened. It’s hard to adjust after — hard emotionally,” said Anderson.

Anderson said the experience has been so traumatic that she’s not even sure she can move back to the Reggie’s Place rooms because of the emotional turmoil.

For the most of August, Anderson plans to stay with family.

Duane Tangie was staying in one of the rooms above Reggie's Place, right next to the completely burnt room.

Tangie said everything in his rental space has smoke damage.

“I feel devastated and lost. That was the only place that I had in the Sault,” said Tangie.

On Sunday the Red Cross attended the scene of the fire and gave tenants 72 hour support that included lodgings, food, clothing, and personal hygiene items.

The Red Cross helped Tangie out by renting him a room at the Water Tower Inn.

When that support ran out on Wednesday, Tangie’s room was paid for by Nishnawbe Aski Nation until Saturday morning.

After noon on Saturday Tangie said he has no place else to go.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do — not the slightest idea. I’m so stressed out I’m making myself sick,” he said.

Tangie's very leery of going to a shelter but it might be his only option he said.

On Friday police released a statement saying the fire was deliberately set.

Daigle said that one rented room in particular is completely burnt and the mattress that was in it just spring on the floor now.

Firefighters were seen in that room the night of the fire and the room is now boarded off.

Police are still investigating the fire and are currently asking for the public’s help in the investigation.

On Friday, a cleanup crew were drying out the bar's carpet and torn up ceiling, much of which will need to be replaced said Daigle.

Daigle bought the bar in the 90s and it has a rich history documented on the walls with photos, art, stickers, and other bar items which are now in boxes as repairs are made.

In the meantime, Daigle’s business is continuing to operate out of Reggie’s West where their regular Sunday night wings and karaoke nights will be held.