A fire at a social housing complex in Chatham has forced residents from 16 units to leave their homes.
Chatham-Kent fire crews were called to 99 McNaughton Avenue West after reports of smoke in the hallways. Crews located a fire in a second-floor apartment and were able to contain it to that unit. As a result, tenants in the second-floor D block were unable to return to their apartments Thursday night.
Those displaced were directed to a nearby church, where Housing Services and Fire Administration staff provided assistance. No injuries were reported.
The Ontario Fire Marshal is expected to attend the scene Friday to investigate the cause. The incident comes months after a major fire at the same complex in August 2024 that displaced more than 120 residents for nearly a year.
Update – A 72-year-old man has been arrested and charged with arson in connection to the apartment fire.