Firefighters rescued residents from their balconies Friday afternoon as they battled a three-alarm apartment fire in New Westminster. The fire broke out at a building in the 900-block of Fourth Avenue, forcing officials to close the road at about 2:30 p.m., according to a post on the City of New Westminster’s Facebook page.
Road Closure and Response
Fourth Avenue is closed to traffic between Eighth and Tenth Streets while crews work to put out the blaze. Residents and commuters are asked to avoid the area. New Westminster Mayor Patrick Johnstone posted on Facebook, calling it a “significant structural fire” in the Brow of the Hill neighborhood.
Balcony Rescues and Firefighting Efforts
Mayor Johnstone said that fire crews had “successfully performed a couple of balcony rescues” and were working on containing the fire’s spread through the structure. Emergency Services were on site to support residents who have been displaced, he added.
