Port Moody residents who were displaced by a massive apartment complex fire are picking up the pieces Thursday, including one woman who lost everything – for the second time.

Tracy Boyd and her mother Fran Hill watched in horror as flames tore through the Mountain View Co-op on Wednesday. Their panic was a familiar feeling; both were living there when a fire broke out at the same complex in 2001, gutting 44 suites.

“I’ve never lived anywhere else,” Boyd told CTV News. “I’m completely and utterly lost.”

Boyd lost everything in both fires, and her mother is waiting on pins and needles to find out if she, too, has lost everything once again.

“Now here it is, Thanksgiving… and we’re back in the same position,” Hill said.

If nothing else, Hill’s unit is expected to have suffered serious smoke and water damage.

Fortunately, the mother and daughter are safe – and so is the family’s cat, Princess Pickles, who was briefly lost after running away during the fire.

Firefighters said the blaze started in a third-floor suite in the middle of the 50-unit building, and quickly spread to both sides.

The entire complex was safely evacuated, and no serious injuries have been reported.

Dozens of displaced residents were taken to the nearby Kyle Centre recreation facility, where some families living nearby brought them essential items and stuffed animals.

“As a mom, to think of all the kids and families that have lost their mementos, and little kids without their stuffies and their favourite things at night, it’s not a good feeling,” said Victoria Parhar.

The blaze was stubborn, taking hours to fully contain, and hot spots were still being extinguished more than 18 hours after it broke out.

Firefighters said the roof collapsed, and 60 per cent of the building has fire damage.

The complex did have a working alarm but no sprinklers or a firestop.

Port Moody city workers said they’ve been inundated with calls from people wanting to help out.

A trust account has been set up to help fire survivors at Vancity Trust:  

Mountain View Coop Trust Account

Account # 2067031

Branch 52

Cash donations can be made at any Vancity branch in the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island.