Not All Heroes Wear Capes
When fire broke out at a 36-unit apartment building in Shediac, New Brunswick, early on October 29, resident superintendent Erica Nan Hepditch moved quickly to help her neighbours escape.
Alerted by a tenant banging on her door around 4 a.m., Hepditch told her boyfriend to get outside with their dog, then moved between floors, knocking on doors and warning residents to leave as smoke filled the building.
Her concern continued once she was outside. Hepditch called tenants she had not seen to confirm they had escaped safely.
“These are my people,” Hepditch told CBC News. “I love them all, they all mean something to me. We’re all family in this little big building.”
Everyone escaped, and no injuries were reported. The building was declared a total loss, leaving residents displaced. Hepditch also lost her own home and her cat, which hid during the evacuation. Sea Breeze Properties owner Vic Shaw praised her as a “modern day hero.”
RHPNS Comment: Erica’s actions deserve recognition. Resident managers and superintendents build relationships with the people who call their buildings home. Her courage and concern for her neighbours demonstrate the human commitment behind that work. Our thoughts are with Erica and everyone affected by the fire.
Source: CBC News — Hannah Rudderham, October 29, 2026.