Three days have passed since a massive Third Alarm fire engulfed a New Westminster apartment building in flames that sent a plume of smoke high into the sky, which could be seen from nearby bridges.
After fire crews had finally put out the blaze, which lasted over 24 hours, we learned that around 150 people had been displaced and their lives had been fundamentally altered forever.
Now, all that remains is a pile of debris, damaged walls, a crushed minivan, and a blue fence around the ruins with security guarding them.
Amir Ali/Daily Hive
What’s next for the property and for the neighbourhood at large, and when will we know what caused the fire?
A recap of the Third Alarm New West fire
Amir Ali/Daily Hive
The fire broke out on July 10, and New Westminster Fire Rescue Service (NWFRS) members responded at around 1:30 p.m. The affected building at 905 Fourth Ave. contains 42 apartment units. A neighbouring apartment building with an estimated 20 to 30 units was also evacuated as a precaution.
Two firefighters and one resident were taken to the hospital with injuries. The City said all residents have been accounted for.
Crews were still directly attacking the blaze as late as 11 30 p.m. that evening, and were still putting water on the building more than 24 hours later.
NWFRS initially told Daily Hive that when crews arrived, residents of the engulfed apartment building were on their balconies and ladders were used to rescue them.
Daily Hive attended the scene, and from the exterior, the neighbouring apartment building appears unscathed. It could be a very different story from the inside due to the amount of smoke being released.
What happens now?
Amir Ali/Daily Hive
Daily Hive reached out to the City of New Westminster about a potential cause and what’s next for the block and the surrounding area.
“The fire investigation is in the preliminary stage and will take several weeks to complete. Witness statements from fire attack crews and residents, as well as evidence from the scene, will be compiled and analyzed, which takes some time. Our investigators will also be working with the New Westminster Police Department to complete the investigation,” Daily Hive learned from New West Fire Chief Erin Williams.
While there are remnants of the previous structure still standing, the City said they would have likely suffered too much damage to remain structurally sound or salvageable.
NWFRS believes that the entire building would need to be demolished.
For other folks living in the neighbourhood, there will be some additional work and noise when excavators attend the site to clear the scene.
The City says folks shouldn’t be concerned about dust during the excavation, as “there is a requirement for the site to be wet-down during this work.”
Residents of the area may hear normal construction noise.
Anyone wanting to support the displaced residents can check out the GoFundMe that was started to help them.