Nearly 100 people displaced after Christmas Day fire in Prince Rupert, B.C.

An early-morning fire forced nearly 100 residents of an apartment block in Prince Rupert, B.C. out of their homes on Christmas Day, according to the city.

A fire at about 3 a.m. at the Sherbrooke Apartments on Sherbrooke Avenue in Prince Rupert led to the displacement of 99 residents living in 36 units, the city said in a statement.

The residents have been relocated to nearby hotels and are receiving emergency support services, the city added.

"Our thoughts are with all families impacted by the fire," the statement said.

The city said the Salvation Army will provide lunch to the fire evacuees. The city asked residents to donate food and essential items to the charity.

Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond told CBC News on Dec. 26 that the damage to the building was "relatively minor" and most of the residents would be allowed back in the coming days.

"There was a need to contain the site, assess the damage and also investigate the source of the fire," he said.

"And so when that work is complete and, and ... that's being worked on as quickly as possible, many of those families will be able to return."

Prince Rupert is a port city of approximately 12,000 people, located almost 500 kilometres west of Prince George as the crow flies.

Numerous residents came forward to help displaced residents on Christmas Day, something Pond called "always heartening, but never surprising."

"When somebody's in trouble, you just go, you know, you respond," he said. 

"And that's the way the community responded to this. And they do it over and over again in so many different ways."

Local resident Aaron Brown made fried bread live on Facebook after the fire, and he sold it in order to donate money to those displaced.

"We have been affected by fire in the past," he said. "My wife grew up in an apartment and they caught on fire, so we know what it feels like to be in need."