Overview
- The fire began on Friday afternoon on the 900 block of Fourth Avenue and was quickly upgraded from a first alarm to a third alarm as multiple suites became involved.
- Fire crews used ground ladders to perform tactical balcony rescues and initially attempted an interior attack before shifting to a defensive posture as conditions worsened.
- Two New Westminster firefighters and one resident were taken to hospital in stable condition and emergency support services set up reception and donation centres for displaced people.
- Firefighters, with mutual aid from Burnaby and off‑duty New Westminster crews, kept working into the night to bring the blaze under control and to extinguish hotspots.
- About 150 people across two buildings were displaced, roads around Fourth Avenue remained closed, and officials say investigators will only determine the cause once it is safe to enter the scene.