Fire and police crews helped 15 residents make their way to safety after a fire at an apartment building in New Westminster Thursday, police say.
Officers say they were working in the area of 5 Avenue and 8 Street when they became aware of a nearby apartment fire.
“As officers approached the building, they could see numerous older adults leaning outside of their windows in an effort to avoid the smoke,” the New Westminster Police Department said.
“Officers entered the burning building alongside their colleagues from the New Westminster Fire and Rescue Service and assisted 15 residents make their way to safety.”
Several of those rescued were unable to move on their own and needed to be carried to safety, police say.
Images taken at the scene show firefighters working outside a building covered in green construction netting.
Neighbours tell CityNews many seniors and young families live in the building.
According to a news release, two officers needed to be taken to hospital for smoke inhalation. They have since been released.
This comes almost three weeks after a massive fire tore through New Westminster’s Pinecrest Manor apartment building, displacing about 150 residents at the time.
