Residents displaced after Joseph Street fire

With temperatures plunging as low as -20 °C with the wind chill, residents of a housing complex on Joseph Street were forced outside as a fire consumed parts of their building.

The fire broke out just before 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021 at the complex, which is operated by Home Base Housing. Kingston Fire and Rescue responded to the blaze, and quickly doused the fire. One resident was transported to hospital as a precaution by Frontenac Paramedic Services due to smoke inhalation, however, all other residents escaped the building unharmed.

Firefighters remained on scene for approximately 2 hours, speaking with residents of the building and ensuring all hot spots were extinguished. The damages to the property are estimated at approximately $150,000, according to Kingston Fire and Rescue.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and Kingston Fire and Rescue said the Electrical Safety Authority has been contacted assist in the investigation. The Electrical Safety Authority will be on scene at the building on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021.

Some residents of the building were displaced, however, Kingston Fire and Rescue said it is their understanding those residents have been provided with alternative accommodations for the time being.

This fire occurred just over a year after a fire in the same building destroyed all contents of a single unit and sent one man to hospital.

Kingstonist has reached out to Home Base Housing for more information on the displaced residents and will update this article as more information becomes available.