Prince George, B.C. – Some residents of the Pine Glen Apartments on North Ospika boulevard are wondering when they are going to get their heat restored.

According to people who live in one building the boiler quit almost two weeks ago during the height of the cold spell in the area and some water pipes froze and then burst.  An as yet unspecified number of apartments have incurred water damage and now health inspectors are being brought in to search for mould.

Natasha Laramee has lived there for about six months.  Her sister, who has children aged 7 and 2, has been there for about two years but like some other tenants has been moved into local hotels or motels because they had no heat.  Natasha says “there are more families being moved into motels because they’re unable to have places up and running for people to move back into their apartments because their (water) lines still are not fixed.  And I don’t think their heat is turned on yet.  There’s a lot of water damage and people have lost a lot of property, personal belongings.”

Asked what she knows about the boiler situation, Natasha says “they had to order parts in and had to wait for the parts to fix it and their parts came from Vancouver, so they said it would be up to six weeks without heat for tenants.  I live in one of the buildings but I was really lucky that I have heat and my water lines are still fine.”

Natasha says “there is about 13 units that have been affected here and there are quite a few families.  In the last 24 to 48 hours eight families have been moved into hotels. She says she is spearheading a drive for food and warm bedding for those needing it.  “I have a Facebook group going right now and people have offered to donate money, heaters and blankets.  (City councilor) Brian Skakun is a big help in this.  He’s dropped food off, he’s trying to get Northern Health involved.  They just called me before you did and they’re worried about the mould situation because mould is starting to appear because with broken lines there is still water in places.”

When contacted the resident manager directed all queries to Gateway Property Management.  A call to the company’s Prince George office directed us to Vancouver and calls to two contact numbers there have not been returned.  Natasha says she hasn’t heard from them either.  “Nobody has gotten ahold of me from them, nobody has called me, nope, and I’m like a big support through all of this right for a lot of the families with the donating and stuff.  I’m surprised they haven’t called me yet.”  She says a friend on her Facebook group has sent a letter out and there has been a reply back.  They said that they’re working real hard at getting everything up and running, but they don’t know details on when.”

Natasha says in the approximate six months she has lived in the apartments she hasn’t had any problems.  “Everything’s been fine for me living here but it’s just everybody else has been having problems.”  She says despite a personal cost she’s following through on helping the tenants who are affected.  “This is going to be an ongoing thing until things get done.  I’m going to try and help as long as I can.  I work as well, I’ve missed days of work because I’m helping my sister.  I’m putting my job as risk because family comes first.  It’s been a struggle but everybody is staying strong.”

She says anyone wanting to help those affected call contact her Facebook group or reach her by phone at 250-562-8183.