Numerous renters have been displaced from the Mariner Apartments in Comox, after a water main break completely flooded the bottom floor.

The water main break occurred in the early morning Thursday.

B次元官网网址淥ur crews got called out at 5:42 and the water was shut off by 6:10,B次元官网网址� said Shelley Ashfield, municipal engineer for the Town of Comox. B次元官网网址淭he repair was done by 10 a.m.B次元官网网址�

Ashfield explained because the damage was done on private property, the landlordB次元官网网址檚 insurance company and the TownB次元官网网址檚 insurance company will determine liability.

Meanwhile, tenants from 17 units have been evicted from their residences.

Management from Arpeg B次元官网网址� the landlord company B次元官网网址� said first priority was finding alternative lodging for all the affected tenants. Friday afternoon, Arpeg senior vice-president of finance, Drew Ratcliffe, assured The Record that all tenants have been provided with alternative lodging.

B次元官网网址淵es, and we will continue to do that,B次元官网网址� he said.B次元官网网址淎t this point, the focus for us is getting as many of the tenantsB次元官网网址� possessions saved or preserved and trying to help them with that.B次元官网网址�

However, a letter sent to all tenants, personally signed by Ratcliffe, contradicts these claims. The letter places the burden of finding alternate living arrangements, and removal of property, solely on the shoulders of the tenants.

The letter, dated Jan. 11, states, in bolded font, B次元官网网址淎t this time we have to declare a B次元官网网址榝rustrated tenancy agreementB次元官网网址� thereby ending all tenancies on the first floor, effective immediately. You will need to find new housing arrangements and remove all your belongings within 24 hours.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭he Arpeg management has not provided alternative lodging and while they are helping look for new places to live, they are not responsible for actually finding us a new place to live,B次元官网网址� Tianna Franklin told The Record. B次元官网网址淲hen I asked in a building meeting if they are going to put us up in a hotel, the building manager said that the insurance likely wouldnB次元官网网址檛 cover it and that we were on our own.

B次元官网网址淗e also acknowledged that it wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be likely that we would be able to find replacement accommodations. This is not a temporary evacuation. They are saying that our rental contracts are frustrated and ending them. While they may offer us the apartments when they become available, as far as I am aware they are not legally responsible to do so.B次元官网网址�

Tenancy at the Mariner Apartments consists primarily of low-income earners and seniors. Most of those affected do not have tenant insurance.

Comox Mayor Russ Arnott visited the site Saturday morning.

B次元官网网址淚t was a sad state of affairs,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淔olks were throwing their belongings into dumpsters. Others were packing up their belongings into cars. IB次元官网网址檓 told there was about six inches of water, and thereB次元官网网址檚 quite a smell coming up already.B次元官网网址�

Arnott said he will be meeting with staff Monday morning to discuss whether the Town can do anything for the affected residents.

B次元官网网址淯nfortunately, we donB次元官网网址檛 have any kind of accommodations for the residents,B次元官网网址� said Arnott. B次元官网网址淣ormally they would rely on their insurance to put them up somewhere.

B次元官网网址淲e will be discussing it on Monday, but we donB次元官网网址檛 have a mechanism to house the folks. We are trying to do the best we can for the folks.B次元官网网址�

When asked whether the Town could come up with some sort of emergency funding for those affected, Arnott did not dismiss the idea.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 definitely something that we are going to be talking about,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 canB次元官网网址檛 promise anything, but I am staying in close communications with staff to see if anything can be doneB次元官网网址� We will definitely help as much as we can.B次元官网网址�

Arnott said after visiting the site, itB次元官网网址檚 clear the units will remain unoccupied for an extended period of time.

B次元官网网址淪peaking with Belfor (Belfor Property Restoration, which has been contracted with the cleanup), itB次元官网网址檚 going to be many months, anyway, because they are going to have to cut the drywall up to the four-foot level. ThereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of work,B次元官网网址� said Arnott.

Ratcliffe said it has yet to be determined whether the infrastructure of the building has been compromised.

B次元官网网址淥bviously my fingers are crossed B次元官网网址� the building is absolutely a question. So a building condition report sometime over the next 48 to 72 hours will have to be done as well.B次元官网网址�

Ashfield said the cause of the burst is still under investigation.

B次元官网网址淗ard to say [the cause],B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚t just happens. We donB次元官网网址檛 get them often, but it could be the freeze-thaw that we had, that could have been something that triggered it. I believe it was an old AC main thatB次元官网网址檚 there.B次元官网网址�

She did not know how old the infrastructure is, but added it was the first break of its kind in that area.

Only one of the tenants had insurance and Franklin has launched a crowdfunding campaign to help. The target is $8,500.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e asking for $8,500 because that will give $500 for every apartment. The money will be shared equally amongst us. It wonB次元官网网址檛 even begin to cover all of our expenses but it will help soften the blow.B次元官网网址�

To contribute to the crowdfunding campaign, go to