Massive fire burning in New Westminster’s Queensborough area
Posted October 12, 2020 8:47 pm.
Last Updated October 13, 2020 9:13 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
NEW: Rain is providing some relief as crews continue to battle a fire at a plastic recycling facility in New Westminster.
QUEENSBOROUGH (NEWS 1130) — Firefighters from three cities are battling a four-alarm fire burning at a commercial, plastic recycling depot in New Westminster’s Queensborough area.
NEWS 1130 listeners began reporting flames several stories high and thick plumes of acrid black smoke near the Annacis Island Swing Bridge around 7:30 p.m. Monday.
New Westminster Fire and Rescue’s Assistant Deputy Chief Curtis Bremner is urging people to close their doors and windows and stay away from the area of Derwent Way and Salter Street.
“It’s a large, commercial plastic recycling depot. So you’ve got a large supply of used plastic containers that are packaged up and ready to be shipped out,” he explains.
“Lots of fuel on that premises.”
Crews from Richmond and Delta have been called in to assist.
No injuries have been reported, and there is no risk of the fire spreading to any homes.
However, there are “adjacent properties,” according to Bremner.
“The crews are doing a great job from what I gather to contain it and prevent the extension into adjacent properties,” he says.
NEWS 1130 listener Moises was watching the scene from his nearby balcony Monday night.
“The flames have been growing in size,” he said around 8:00 p.m.
Other listeners sent photos and videos as the fire grew.
