White Rock fire victims won't be back home for a year

More than 100 White Rock residents who lost their apartments in a building fire on Sunday won't be able to go back home for at least a year.

• White Rock, B.C., fire prompts evacuation order, boil-water advisory

Only a portion of the building will be restored and the rest will have to be rebuilt, said the city's director of recreation and culture.

"The building is notinhabitable, as a result they all have to find accommodation elsewhere," said Eric Stepura, who is also in charge of the city's emergency services and victim assistance program.

"It will be a long period of time until anyone is back in that apartment block a year to a year and half," Stepura said.

The majority of residents who were displaced have insurance, he said. Those who don't were given accommodation for 72 hours through the province's emergency program but after that they are on their own.

"They have to fend for themselves or get help from friends or family," he said.

Stepura said there is some support available through the Ministry of Housing and there is a lot of support in the community, including a large number of donations.

He said anyone who wants to help the fire victims with accommodation is asked to call the City of White Rock at 604-541-2199.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

With files from the CBC's The Early Edition and Claudia Goodine.

To hear the full interview click on the audio labelled:White Rock fire victims won't be back home for a year