Close X
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
ADVT 
National

Hundreds Left Homeless After Massive Langley Condo Fire

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 12 Dec, 2016 11:46 AM
    LANGLEY, B.C. — Dozens of people are homeless after a fire ripped through a four-storey condominium complex Sunday morning.
     
    Rory Thompson, fire chief for the City of Langley, said crews received a call about a fire on a fourth floor balcony around 10 a.m. and about 55 firefighters were still attacking the flames several hours later.
     
    A release from the City of Langley said all residents of the building were safely evacuated.
     
    Thompson said two firefighters and a resident rescued from the top floor were all taken to hospital and treated for smoke inhalation.
     
    Dan McDonald lives on the building's second floor and said he was jolted awake by the sound of fire alarms Sunday morning.
     
    "Heck of a way to start your Sunday," he said outside his building, describing the scene as "surreal."
     
    Video taken at the scene shows massive flames bursting from the top of the building amid thick, dark smoke. Pieces of the top floor can be seen tumbling breaking free and tumbling to the ground below.
     
    "When I first came outside, there was a little bit of a fire," McDonald said. "And then within 20 minutes, there was 50, 60-foot flames shooting off the top of the building. All things considered, I think these guys (the firefighters) have done a bang-up job."
     
    Several residents said they had to leave the building so abruptly that treasured pets were left behind.
     
    Danielle Loynton, lives on the third floor and couldn't get her five-year-old cat, Dexter, out of the building because he ran when the fire alarm went off.
     
    "I just ran out and I've been standing out here ever since, just waiting," said Loynton, who stood outside wrapped in a blanket some neighbours gave her. 
     
    The City of Langley said an information session would be held Sunday night to advise residents on what will happen next.
     
     
    Thompson said there are about 60 units in the building and it's unlikely the residents can return home any time soon.
     
    The building does have sprinklers, he said, but not in the area where the fire appears to have started.
     
    "In this particular case, it looks like the fire may have started on the balcony of one of the fourth floor suites and then quickly spread up into the attic space. So while there are sprinklers in each suite and in the hallways, that's not where the fire was."
     
    Thompson said there's no indication yet as to what caused the fire.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Independent Probe Involving Kelowna RCMP Finds Complaint Unwarranted

    Independent Probe Involving Kelowna RCMP Finds Complaint Unwarranted
    ABBOTSFORD, B.C. — The Abbotsford Police Department says it has found no evidence of wrongdoing by an individual at the RCMP detachment in Kelowna, B.C..

    Independent Probe Involving Kelowna RCMP Finds Complaint Unwarranted

    Trans Mountain Pipeline Approval Prompts Anger, Promises To Protest In B.C.

    Trans Mountain Pipeline Approval Prompts Anger, Promises To Protest In B.C.
    Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson said he was "profoundly disappointed," calling the decision a "big step backwards" for Canada's environment and economy.

    Trans Mountain Pipeline Approval Prompts Anger, Promises To Protest In B.C.

    South Asian Heritage Learning Tools Receive Boost From Province

    South Asian Heritage Learning Tools Receive Boost From Province
    Peter Fassbender, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, along with Amrik Virk, MLA for Surrey-Tynehead, addressed Surrey high school students and community members at Simon Fraser University.

    South Asian Heritage Learning Tools Receive Boost From Province

    PC Teen Sam Oosterhoff Sworn In As Youngest-Ever Member Of Ontario's Legislature

    PC Teen Sam Oosterhoff Sworn In As Youngest-Ever Member Of Ontario's Legislature
    A homeschooled teenager was sworn in Wednesday as the youngest-ever member of the Ontario legislature, but his socially conservative views threaten to make him the Progressive Conservatives' problem child.

    PC Teen Sam Oosterhoff Sworn In As Youngest-Ever Member Of Ontario's Legislature

    Foreign Ownership Of Condos Lower Than Year Ago In Big Cities, CMHC Report

    Foreign Ownership Of Condos Lower Than Year Ago In Big Cities, CMHC Report
    Foreign ownership was the highest in Vancouver and Toronto at 2.2 per cent and 2.3 per cent, respectively.

    Foreign Ownership Of Condos Lower Than Year Ago In Big Cities, CMHC Report

    Trial Begins For Montreal Activist Who Staged Topless Protest During Grand Prix

    Trial Begins For Montreal Activist Who Staged Topless Protest During Grand Prix
    MONTREAL — The lawyer for a Montreal woman who staged a topless protest at the city's Grand Prix festivities in 2015 is asking for a stay of proceedings against her client.

    Trial Begins For Montreal Activist Who Staged Topless Protest During Grand Prix