Penhold's aging Wild Rose Manor – destroyed by fire on April 10 – had no sprinkler system.
And its absence could have made a positive difference for firefighters in their attempts to save the building, said the town's fire chief.
“It did not have one,” confirmed Jim Pendergast. “Absolutely we believe that it would have made a difference. The building was built to the code of the time, which was in the 1970s and it was not required.
“You don't have to update a building if you don't do any renovations or additions.”
Pendergast said the fire was declared under control at around 11:30 a.m. on April 11 but an all-clear order was not made.
“I think we are close to that,” he said, adding firefighters and RCMP have still not accounted for all the known residents of the apartment building.
The fire on April 10 started shortly before 5:45 p.m. on April 10. The blaze spread quickly throughout the building as firefighters raced to the scene in a vain attempt to put it under control. The three-story 18-unit building collapsed within an hour. Residents who were able to flee the building were taken to the Penhold Memorial Hall, which was set up as an evacuation centre. Scores of Penhold residents brought food, blankets and mattresses.
At least two people were taken to hospital with undetermined injuries from the fire.
Mayor Dennis Cooper said Friday that no displaced resident of the destroyed apartment building had to stay in an emergency shelter Thursday night, and that all found lodgings with relatives, friends or concerned citizens of the community.
