Restoration work underway at site of Barrie apartment fire

Alyssa Gilbert is running a zoo in her home these days.

After a fire gutted the building across from her apartment on July 12, the D'Ambrosio Drive neighbour has taken in three cats, two dogs, two bearded dragon lizards, a gecko, a ferret, a budgie and several fish.

I'm calling it the furry friends resort, Gilbert joked. I'm feeding and cleaning at least three times a day.

Gilbert, who also served food to the displaced families immediately after the fire, doesn't mind looking after the animal menagerie as their owners stay in hotels or with friends while their homes are being renovated.

The fire started in a second-floor unit of the three-storey apartment building at 101 D'Ambrosio Dr., in Barrie's south end, at around 9:30 p.m.

Approximately 50 people from 28 apartments were displaced after the fire.

Smoke and water damage caused approximately $500,000 damage to the building.

Close to half of the tenants have the mandatory contents insurance.

Tenants with insurance have had their furniture and personal items moved outside into large metal storage bins positioned neatly in parking spaces along the rear of the building.

Their possessions will be washed and held until they're relocated to another building, or moved back into their homes this fall.

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Restoration work underway at site of Barrie apartment fire