4-alarm fire at Coquitlam apartment complex
Fire crews expected to continue fighting blaze overnight
Firefighters are trying to extinguish a four-alarm blaze in an apartment complex in Coquitlam, B.C. that has forced at least 100 people to evacuate.
The fire started Monday afternoon at a four-storey apartment building at 2915 Glen Drive near Pacific Street.
Watch raw video from a neighbour who saw the building in flames.
The City of Coquitlam said in a statement that residents from the burning building will not be re-admitted overnight. Many of the evacuees will have to stay overnight at emergency shelters as crews battle the blaze overnight.
"Based on initial assessment, it's likely that the entire building will be displaced for several months," the city said. "At this time we do not have an update on when residents will be able to access their suites to retrieve personal items."
There are still a number of people unaccounted for, so the city is requesting all residents to report to the reception centre at the nearby Pinetree Community Centre.
Harold Rudge, who lives in the building, said he could see the smoke coming from a door on the other end of complex.
"You could smell all the smoke out in the hallway ... I just went and got my cat and got out of the building," he said.
Rudge said he thinks there are 72 units in building and believes everyone got out.
Watch raw video of fire crews fighting the blaze.
The thick, heavy smoke also set of smoke detector alarms in neighbouring buildings and forced some of the residents to leave.
So far, there have been no reports of injuries and the cause of the fire has not been determined.