The City of Cranbrook is sending out its thanks to all the organizations, businesses and individuals that came forward to help those impacted by the Knight’s Hall fire.
A fire broke out in the building on Nov. 24, and an ‘unmet needs committee’ was formed to support those displaced by the blaze.
“It is extremely difficult when a fire displaces all of the residents in a multi-family rental occupancy. It is even harder in the winter and harder still in such a difficult housing market,” said Scott Driver, Cranbrook Fire & Emergency Services director. “The City’s role in emergency response includes Emergency Support Services, but that is designed to supplement the emergency needs of an individual for a three-day period. It was clear from the outset that three days wasn’t going to be long enough.”
“In this case, it was identified early on by emergency program staff that the needs of the displaced occupants was likely going to exceed the available supports of our traditional systems,” said Driver. “It was necessary to set in motion an ‘unmet needs committee,’ bringing our local and regional social support agencies together, to effectively address the needs of residents that could not be met through the Emergency Program.”
City officials said they would like to thank the following groups: Sandman Hotel, Days Inn, Salvation Army, Denny’s Restaurant, Real Canadian Superstore, Free Spirit Travel, Canadian Red Cross, Ktunaxa Nation, Community Connections, BC Housing, Interior Health, Ministry of Social Development & Poverty Reduction, Cranbrook RCMP Detachment, BC Ambulance Service, Emergency Management BC, and the East Kootenay Emergency Management Program staff.
Each of them contributed to make up the unmet needs committee to help out those impacted by the fire.
“It is this willingness of so many good people to help, that creates a community we can all be proud to call home,” said city officials.