New Westminster apartment fire sends resident, 2 firefighters to hospital

An apartment building in New Westminster was heavily damaged by fire Friday afternoon, sending three people to hospital.

A fire broke out at an apartment in New Westminster Friday afternoon, sending one resident and two firefighters to hospital.

New West Fire and Rescue Services says it responded to a first alarm apartment fire in the 900 block of 4th avenue around 1:30 p.m.

“On arrival, crews reported multiple units on fire with residents on balconies,” NWFRS Chief Erin Williams told CTV News. “Several residents were rescued using ground ladders while crews did an interior attack and assisted residents to evacuate.”

Williams says the fire was upgraded to a third alarm, triggering a second dispatch from the Burnaby Fire Department and a call-out of off-duty NWFRS crews.

Eight apparatus, including two aerial trucks are currently on scene, according to Williams, who describes the response by NWFRS as “phenomenal” under extreme fire conditions.

Paramedics provided emergency medical care to four patients, three of whom needed to be transported to hospital, according to BC Emergency Health Services.

As of 5 p.m., BCEHS says two ambulances and a paramedic supervisor remain on scene.

The New Westminster Police Department says road closures are in effect on Fourth Avenue between Eighth and 10^th streets, as well as on Ninth and 10^th streets between Fourth and Fifth avenues.

A former resident of the apartment contacted CTV News after learning about the fire.

“An incident like this felt inevitable,” Zackary Grant said.

He alleges the building was the subject of multiple orders from NWFRS over the past year and blamed the owners of the building for its “horrendous” conditions.

“The safety of the building definitely played a role in our decision to move,” he added, referring to himself and his partner.