Crews evacuated dozens of apartments in a Coquitlam building Thursday night after a fire ripped through part of the structure.
The Coquitlam Fire Rescue Service says no one was injured, but 27 units in the building off Princess Crescent near Town Centre Boulevard were badly damaged, and some residents will not be able to return home.
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The City of Coquitlam says an emergency social services team established a reception centre for displaced residents at the nearby City Centre Aquatic Complex. In an update Friday morning, the city says the reception centre has now closed. Information for displaced residents is still available online.
“We will be working with the building’s strata over the coming days to support residents affected,” the city stated.
City Coun. Matt Djonlic is also a resident of the building and thanked firefighters on behalf of the city and his neighbours.
Djonlic tells CityNews that fire crews arrived “extremely fast,” and began “doing what they do best, putting out fire, and saving homes.”
He said he doesn’t know how the fire started, but saw smoke issuing from a balcony.
Images from the scene show fire crews using ladders to reach balconies of fire-damaged apartments on at least two levels.
The city confirmed the cause of the fire is under investigation.
