Historic Edmonton apartment gutted by fire, but lucky bunny pulled to safety

Canadian Press April 6, 2005

EDMONTON (CP) - Fire crews cleaning up the mess left by a fire that gutted a historic apartment building pulled one lucky bunny to safety Wednesday.

Crews found General Tuffle, thirsty but otherwise OK, in his cage on the second floor of the Arlington Apartments in downtown Edmonton. The rabbit's owner, Mark Mastervito, was reunited with the animal and said he had almost given up hope.

Officials said all the human residents in the 97-year-old apartment building were accounted for after the blaze Tuesday.

Damage is estimated at $3 million.

The five-storey structure built in 1909 had been the focus of numerous health and safety complaints in recent years. It was even condemned at one point in 1998.

But it was also the home in its early years to local elite because of classical Edwardian architecture that gave it an aristocratic feel.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

© The Canadian Press 2005