Residents displaced by a fire at the Labrador Inn in Happy Valley-Goose Bay earlier this week are now back in their rooms.

A malfunctioning heater in the building’s washrooms created a huge amount of smoke, forcing the evacuation of some two dozen residents living there in emergency housing on what was one of the coldest days of the year.

MHA Perry Trimper says temperatures were in the -40 range Wednesday morning as residents were forced out into the cold.

He commends the many agencies that came together to ensure that the people involved were quickly and safely housed at the local Salvation Army.

Happily, those residents are now back, safe and sound at the Labrador Inn.

“Within a little bit more than 24 hours we were able to return them,” says Trimper. “Now, there is extensive damage to parts of the hotel, but the Fire Inspector has cleared it, folks have returned, and all 24 of our clients are back in the care of the Labrador Inn.” He says that’s not bad for a serious incident that could have been far worse.