By Brett Popplewell
Three major fires in Centretown in the last three weeks have left five people dead and 31 homeless, causing more than $2 million in property damage.
Two fires broke out on Somerset Street West in the early morning hours of April 5.
The first fire started at 876 Somerset shortly before midnight. The building’s eight occupants managed to escape the blaze unharmed, only to watch their homes and belongings go up in smoke.
Investigators said the fire was caused by an electrical problem on the second floor of the building.
Ten pumpers and 50 firefighters were fighting the flames when a second blaze erupted just down the street.
“While they were fighting that fire, they got a call for the other fire,” said David Homestead of Ottawa Fire Services.
The second blaze proved more devastating to the community. Five members of one family were killed as flames ravaged the family’s residence above the Mekong grocery store at 816 Somerset.
Macara Thach, 56, his son-in-law, Bunny Svay, 25, and 15 month-old grandson Sipheng Svay managed to survive.
The apartment was not equipped with any smoke detectors.
“It is very disturbing to learn, especially in fatal fires, that smoke alarms were not present or operable in the home,” said Ontario Fire Marshal Bernard Moyle.
Kol Yan Keo Thach, 45, her daughter, Thichanda, 24, and sons Gary, 13, Danny, 12, and Sunny, 11, died in the blaze of smoke inhalation.a
Fire officials indicated this week they are trying to determine whether to lay charges against the owner of the building.
“We are pursuing an investigation to identify whether or not charges will be laid,” said Kim Ayotte, chief of special operations with the Ottawa fire department.
“We have the responsibility to ensure that we have life safety devices installed in our houses and that we used them.”
The cause is still under investigation, but Mike Hoarbosch of the Ottawa Police Service’s arson division has been called in to investigate.
“We treat every fire as a crime until proven otherwise,” he said.
The Somerset Street fires came less than two weeks after a major blaze broke out in the early morning at the corner of Bank and Florence streets. That fire left 20 people homeless and destroyed two businesses.
Fire officials estimate the blaze at 876 Somerset resulted in $200,000 damage. Damages at the Thach residence could exceed $500,000.
The Florence Street fire caused $1.5 million in damage.
Hoarbosch said investigators have reason to suspect arson in the Florence Street fire, but the exact cause will not be known until lab results are returned to the investigators later this month.
While authorities continue to investigate the fires, the community has come together in support of the victims.
A block of Somerset Street was closed off last weekend as a crowd of community members gathered along the street for a ceremony at a makeshift memorial erected across from the Thach family residence.
The Salvation Army has taken the lead in helping the eight residents left homeless from the non-fatal fire on Somerset Street.
“We’re collecting clothes and household goods to replace what they’ve lost,” said Max Bulmer of the Salvation Army.
The Red Cross also helped the victims of both the Somerset and Florence streets fires find shelter in the days immediately following the fires.
“We put eight people in hotels with meals for three days following the Florence Street fire,” said Alistair Hensler, co-ordinator of disaster services for the Red Cross.
People left homeless from the Florence Street fire are now being accommodated with housing by Apollo Property Management.
The Somerset Community Centre has also pitched in by establishing “The Cambodian Family Support Fund” to raise funds for the surviving Thach family members.
“We’re very pleased with the community’s response to this tragedy. Thus far we’ve been able to raise over $8,000 from corporate and private donors,” said Eugene Williams of the community centre.
The centre hopes to raise over $10,000 and has placed no time limit on the campaign, while the Salvation Army will continue accepting donations for the victims of the 876 Somerset Street fire.
People wanting to drop off items at the Salvation Army can do so at 1280 Leeds Ave., Unit 6, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Somerset Community Centre’s relief fund is accepting cash or cheque donations made payable to the centre at 55 Eccles St. at the corner of Booth Street.