Fire breaks out in New Westminster, displacing residents of apartment building
Dozens of New Westminster residents have been displaced by a fire that broke out at an apartment building Monday evening.
Fire crews responded to a structure fire at a three-storey building near the Royal Columbian Hospital around 6:45 p.m., according to the city’s acting fire chief.
“On arrival, there was heavy smoke and flames coming from a unit on the second floor and crews performed an exterior attack to limit spread to other units,” Erin Williams wrote in an email to CTV News Tuesday.
All residents managed to exit the building and no injuries were reported, but Williams says the building can’t be reoccupied until the fire and life safety systems have been restored.
“Restoration will begin as soon as possible to allow residents to safely reoccupy the building,” Williams wrote.
“The Emergency Management Co-ordinator and Emergency Social Support staff were activated to assist with accommodations and support for multiple displaced residents,” she continued.
A fire investigation is underway and will be continuing throughout Tuesday, according to the acting fire chief.
Williams says a total of 16 firefighters and three chief officers were on scene, plus extra off-duty officers were called in to provide coverage to the city for the duration of the blaze at 331 Hospital St.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Notorious serial killer Paul Bernardo moved to medium-security prison in Quebec
Notorious serial rapist and killer Paul Bernardo was moved to a medium-security prison in Quebec this week.

Special rapporteur David Johnston’s office hired crisis communications firm Navigator
Special rapporteur David Johnston has hired crisis communications firm Navigator, his office confirmed on Friday.
Here's what Nova Scotia's wildfires look like from outer space
Photos released by NASA taken from International Space Station show the immense scale of the wildfires in Nova Scotia, with billowing smoke engulfing the landscape.
Air Canada should face more consequences after two disruptions in a week, consumer advocate says
An airline consumer advocate says Air Canada should face tougher consequences for stranding passengers after two disruptions in a week.
Canada's 'unprecedented' fire season linked to climate change, will be the new normal: scientists
At the moment, wildfires are burning across six provinces and one territory in Canada — and they’re still spreading in what’s being called an unprecedented fire season. While firefighters work tirelessly to battle the merciless flames and prevent further destruction, scientists say the wildfires are linked to climate change and that this will be the new normal.
'Utterly disgusting': Canadian Army sergeant fined for 'anti-Jewish' comments
A 38-year-old sergeant in the Canadian Army was fined $3,000 and issued a severe reprimand after he made what a military judge described as 'utterly disgusting' anti-Jewish comments while conducting an infantry training course in 2021.
Experts warn of 'rapid' growth of IBD as number of Canadians diagnosed set to reach 470K by 2035
The number of people in Canada with inflammatory bowel disease is increasing rapidly and is expected to grow to 470,000 by 2035, according to a new report from Crohn's and Colitis Canada.
'Many, many lives turned upside down' by wildfires: N.S. premier
Nova Scotia’s premier says the “historic” wildfires in the province have caused a “breath-taking amount of damage.”
Trudeau raises Poland's democratic backsliding as prime minister visits Toronto
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he raised concerns about reports that LGBTQ2S+ rights and democracy are under threat in Poland during a Friday visit with its prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, in Toronto.