Four evacuees are receiving emergency support services after being displaced from their home by a fire that ripped through a Lower Lonsdale apartment.
At around 7 p.m. Thursday (June 27), North Vancouver City Fire Department received a report of a structure fire at 444 Lonsdale Ave.
Upon arrival, firefighters saw significant smoke coming from upper floors of the apartment building, said Fire Chief Greg Schalk.
Video footage taken from a nearby building shows bright red flames pouring out of the window of a ninth-floor unit, licking the exterior of the building two storeys above.
It was upgraded to a two-alarm fire, which brought in additional firefighters from West Vancouver and the District of North Vancouver, Schalk said.
Atop an aerial ladder on a fire truck, a firefighter attacked the blaze with blasts of water while crews inside worked in tandem.
“We were able to contain the fire quickly to the unit,” Schalk said. “We were able to evacuate the building, and assist with residents suffering from symptoms of smoke inhalation.”
Out of precaution, three of those people were taken by ambulance to hospital, but none sustained serious injuries, Schalk said.
While power was intentionally cut to the surrounding area during the response, the lights went back on after the flames were put down before 9 p.m.
“We were able to turn the building back over, and most of the residents were able to get back into the building last night,” the fire chief said.
One unit was significantly damaged from the fire, with several adjacent apartments sustaining damage related to smoke and firefighting effort, Schalk said.
Investigators have begun work but haven’t yet determined the cause. “We can rule it out being suspicious,” he said.
In total, four evacuees from three of the most heavily damaged units are receiving emergency support services over the next 72 hours, said Emily Dicken, director with North Shore Emergency Management.
Fortunately, in this situation all of the impacted residents have insurance, Dicken said.
“Emergency support services gives them the time to get back on their feet, and to connect with their insurer,” she said.
Having insurance makes the aftermath of such events much easier to navigate, Dicken said.
Video clips courtesy of @alihaha604 / X
