Move-outs for displaced residents underway at Lakeview Manor

Moving is normally a planned endeavour, but residents retrieving their belongings from Lakeview Manor after last weekend's fire are rushed out of necessity.

With firefighters supervising, and a crew from Job Corp to help haul furniture and heavy items, residents are now allowed into the apartment building to officially move out.

Gloves, masks and hard hats have all been supplied-and everyone entering the building is required to use them.

The building suffered serious damage after a cigarette butt in a planter started a fire in the early hours of March 12. No residents were injured, but it took some time for the building to be deemed safe for entry, and some suites are still off-limits to everyone except trained firefighters.

POST reporters Alex Fuller and Luke Muise were both residents in the building, but their units survived unscathed. Fuller says it was bizarre to enter the building after seeing the damage from outside.

"You walk in and all the lights are off and everything is a mess," he said. "People are everywhere and it's controlled chaos. It's really the last time you're seeing your apartment, and it's all just so rushed."

Because Muise's apartment was on the third floor-the most heavily damaged level-he had to don a face mask as well as a hard hat.

"I didn't think I would have to but I probably should have expected it," he said. "It was fogging up my glasses the whole time."

For Fuller on the second floor, the hard hat was the only safety gear required. It was an inconvenience in some ways, and a blessing in others, he says.

"It slipped down every 30 seconds or so, but I hit my head on open cabinet doors a few times so I'm still glad I had it," he said with a laugh.

Moving out was an accelerated process because of time constraints, and Muise says it wouldn't have been possible without all the assistance he and Fuller received.

"I couldn't have done it without everyone's help," said Muise. "Thanks to all the volunteers and organizers and friends and community members who came to help out."