North Battleford, Sask. woman looking forward to new home after devastating apartment fire
Just over two weeks after a devastating fire at a North Battleford apartment, residents are trying to pick up the pieces.
The images of the fire are etched in the mind of LesleyaAnn Moosomin who rushed her family of six out of their apartment just before 1 a.m. Jan. 3.
“We just had to get out. The smoke was just too quick,” Moosomin told CTV News.
Her apartment was one of the closest to where the fire started. They smelled smoke first.
“There was no time to grab anything. We had to take my grandson out in his diaper,” Moosomin said.
The two-bedroom suite they lived in, a home Moosomin made for her two daughters, son-in-law and two grandchildren was tough to abandon.
“It’s just heartbreaking. It’s a big loss to me,” she said.
LesleyaAnn Moosomin and her family learned this week they have somewhere to live after their apartment building burned down. (Submitted photo)
They first stayed in a motel then stayed with people they knew. She’s grateful for all the help, but scrambling to find a permanent home has been a challenge.
“Because it's so cold, the family and friends do have full houses as well. We tried to call shelters in North Battleford and Saskatoon. They were all too full,” she said.
The Red Cross was one of the first organizations on the scene to help residents. The Salvation Army also played a role in finding homes for families and getting them basic supplies like clothing. Maj. Al Hoeft said it was a true testament to preparedness.
“It was great to see everybody’s needs were met. That there was nobody who would fall through the cracks,” Hoeft told CTV News.
Moosomin learned this week they have secured a place to live in Saskatoon. She's looking forward to new surroundings so she doesn’t have to relive the pain of losing so much.
“It’s just too traumatizing to just see the building not there anymore because it was our home. My late mom’s pictures and paintings were in there.”
Moosomin was happy to sell her car the day before the fire, but she had the cash sitting in her apartment and was lost in the fire. The landlord did return their damage deposit which has gone to buy food for her family.
Now with a new home on the horizon, she will stay strong for her family. Her youngest daughter wakes up in the night seeing the flames, she said.
RCMP were dispatched to a “fully engulfed” apartment building fire Monday around 1:25 a.m. on the 1400 block of 102nd Street in North Battleford. (Mark A Parenteau/Facebook)
In a statement to CTV News, the Battlefords Housing Authority said some vacancies are available and it encourages people in need to consider applying.
"The Battlefords Housing Authority engaged with impacted individuals, hosting in-person sessions to provide more information, and they continue to be welcome to call or visit our office at 831 – 104th Street in North Battleford. We are available to answer any questions, or provide support with applications," the statement said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Humboldt Broncos bus crash survivor qualifies Canada for Paralympics in rowing event
Former Humboldt Broncos goaltender and bus crash survivor Jacob Wassermann has qualified Canada for a rowing event for the 2024 Paralympic games in Paris.
Baby boom amongst nurses leads to maternity ward closure in Listowel, Ont.
The emergency room at Listowel’s hospital is open today, but come summer, their obstetrics unit will be temporarily closing its delivery rooms.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts coming to McDonald's in U.S., but not Canada
Canadians will be missing out on a sweet new partnership between McDonald's and Krispy Kreme, which will see doughnuts available at McDonald's locations across the U.S. by the end of 2026.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.
Quebec judge orders bus driver to stand trial for 2023 daycare crash deaths
A judge has ordered a Quebec man to stand trial on charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of two children killed when a bus rammed into a Montreal-area daycare last year.