Dozens of people have been evacuated from their homes in Abbotsford, British Columbia, after a large fire broke out in an apartment building early Tuesday.
The crews were called to Block 30500 on Cardinal Avenue shortly after 6 a.m. PT, the Abbotsford Fire and Rescue Service said.
About four hours after the blaze, Chief Darren Lee said 51 firefighters, including Langley and Mission teams, were still working to contain the blaze, which forced people in 160 units as well as neighboring homes and businesses to evacuate.
“We will have a lot of people to be displaced,” Lee said.
Abbotsford Fire Chief Darren Lee said many people had been displaced by the fire, including 160 residents, as well as half a dozen homes on the north side of the complex and a handful of businesses on the west side. (Ben Nelms / CBC)
He said firefighters were still working around 10 a.m. to put out fires on the roof and control the spread to the upper floors of the building. They were also trying to save pets that were still locked inside.
Abbotsford police are asking residents who have been displaced to register at the reception center set up in Northview Church at 32040 Downes Rd. Lee said that once people register, the process can begin to provide them with emergency support.
The public has been asked to avoid the area north of the Highstreet in Mount Lehman.
FortisBC cut off gas at the scene.
Abbotsford fire crews stand on the balconies of an Abbotsford apartment building as they try to contain the fire with three alarms. (Ben Nelms / CBC)
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