One firefighter and two police officers were treated for smoke inhalation after a fire at an apartment building in New Westminster Thursday night. Crews were called to the building on 5th Avenue near 8th Street around 6 p.m. and arrived to find one suite engulfed in flames. The building was evacuated, with police and firefighters working together to rescue some residents who were unable to get out on their own. In a news release Friday, the New Westminster Police Department said it worked with the New Westminster Fire and Rescue Service to help 15 residents get to safety. “Several residents were unable to move and required multiple first responders to carry them to safety,” the release reads. “Two officers went to hospital for smoke inhalation but have since been released.” Fire crews told CTV News one firefighter was also treated by paramedics for smoke inhalation. Resident Diane Pick-Ross was one of the people rescued from the building. “I was kind of stuck in my apartment,” she said. “I went into the lobby—too smoky—tried to go down the stairs—too smoky—so I decided to go in my bedroom where it was less smoky. And then somebody came and got me.” Pick-Ross said firefighters carried her down the scaffolding that was encasing the building at the time of Thursday’s blaze. Firefighters were able to contain the flames to one unit, but there was some smoke damage to the rest of the building. Most residents were allowed back inside later Thursday night. The NWPD praised its officers for their quick response to the fire, saying they had seen “numerous older adults leaning outside of their windows in an effort to avoid the smoke” when they arrived. “The actions of our officers reflect the very best of policing,” said Sgt. Andrew Leaver, in the release. “Their quick response and selfless efforts helped these residents escape an incredibly dangerous situation.” The cause of the fire is under investigation, crews said.
