New Westminster firefighters are “making good progress” tackling a fire at an abandoned apartment building in the Brow of the Hill neighbourhood.
Heavy smoke filled the air as firefighters worked to extinguish a fire in the dilapidated two-storey apartment building in the 1300 block of Cariboo Street, just off of Stewardson Way. The fire started Wednesday morning.
A spokesperson for the City of New Westminster told the Record that New Westminster Fire and Rescue Service is making good progress protecting adjacent properties, and Chief Tim Armstrong reports that there are no injuries.
“NWPD is currently assisting NWFD with a structure fire in the area of 14th St and Cariboo,” tweeted New Westminster Police Department at 8:29 a.m. “Please avoid the area if possible as there are several road closures. Also watch for flooding in the 1400 block Stewardson Way.”
Early reports suggest an adjacent building was evacuated because of the presence of heavy smoke.
Lily Nichol, who lives across the street from the fire, could see four fire trucks and at least 20 firefighters at the site at 9:30 a.m.
“The streets in my neighbourhood are blocked. We are technically trapped here for at least today,” she tweeted.
Nichol, who moved to the neighbourhood in the spring, said neighbours told her the small apartment complex has been in poor condition and abandoned for years.
“It’s collapsing in on itself currently,” she tweeted. “The walls from my side appear to be leaning inward at a dramatic angle.”
Several neighbours have reported that homeless individuals have stayed in the building on multiple occasions.
More to come.
