Fiona McBeth helps salvage items damaged by smoke and water from her daughter's apartment. (CBC)

More than three dozen people spent Thanksgiving away from home after an arsonist torched their west Edmonton walk-up apartment building.

The fire at Westlawn Village, which investigators say was deliberately set, caused more $2.3 million damage.

The fire started in the bedroom of a second-floor suite, spreading into other parts of the building and forcing 41 residents from their home.

"I'd rather be home having turkey dinner and mashed potatoes," said Fiona McBeth, who spent Thanksgiving afternoon moving her daughter's belongings out of her basement apartment.

"They've got all the carpets pulled out," she said. "People are in there packing up, trying to get rid of what they can out through the windows."

The Red Cross has been helping homeless residents for the last three days of the Thanksgiving weekend, says spokeswoman Tracie Moore

"It's never a good time to have something like this happen," she said. "Over a holiday just adds to the complexity."

McBeth says her daughter is a student who lost about $1,000 worth of belongings, but nonethless found something to be thankful for.

"The good thing is she's alive and no one got hurt."