Firefighters tackle patio blaze at New Westminster apartment

Video shared with CTV News by Javier Pacheco-Raguz shows a fire burning in downtown New Westminster on Saturday, May 24, 2025.

A black plume of smoke loomed over New Westminster Saturday afternoon after a fire erupted in its downtown core.

Fire crews were called to a structure fire around 3 p.m to find the rooftop patio area of a nine-storey building ablaze, said Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Gill, of the New Westminster Fire and Rescue services.

“Crews were very quick and able to get water on the fire and contain it,” he said.

Video obtained by CTV News Vancouver shows flames exploding from a top floor of an apartment building on Columbia Street, licking its roof and sending thick black smoke billowing into the air above.

Bar one man who sustained some smoke inhalation, there were no injuries reported, and the residents will be able to return to their homes safely, he said.

The large blaze was due to the objects that had been on the roof, including wood planters and a wood pergola.

Accessing the rooftop patio through the suite had been “challenging” said Gill, however the crews were “able to overcome that challenge fairly quickly, and get water onto the fire.”