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Officials investigating cause of St. John’s seniors’ home blaze

Feb. 20, 2014, St. John's, N.L. – Several seniors who were taken to hospital in St. John's, Newfoundland, after suffering smoke inhalation from a fire at their apartment complex have been released.

Zelda Burt, a spokeswoman with Eastern Health, says in an email that all of the five elderly residents people were discharged but offered no other details.

Fire officials were trying to determine the cause of the blaze that broke out at about 4 p.m. Wednesday, forcing the evacuation of about 179 people at the seniors' apartment complex.

St. John's Regional Fire Department Supt. Don Byrne says the fire started in a unit on the third floor of the Maplewood Apartments, but it wasn't yet clear what caused it.

He says it was a tough fire to fight because firefighters were trying to get in the same entrance that many of the residents were using to get out, with some using walkers and wheelchairs.

Many residents were taken by transit buses to city hall where they were to be met by family members, while others were sent to hotels.