Tenants of an apartment in the Brow of the Hill neighbourhood were woken by fire alarms and police pounding at their doors early last Wednesday morning.
A shrub in front of an apartment in the 400 block of Ash Street was destroyed by fire. The fire broke out shortly before 3 a.m. on Aug. 29.
"It took the tree out," said fire inspector Brent Joel. "It could have gotten into the building. The police were banging on doors and getting everybody out."
Members of New Westminster Fire and Rescue Services quickly extinguished the fire to the cedar hedge located next to the building. The cause hasn't been determined, but a cigarette is one possibility.
"I don't have a cause," Joel said. "I am not going to suggest it was malicious."
The investigation is continuing. No one was injured in the fire, which destroyed the hedge and cracked three windows.
