Burnaby fire hospitalizes 2 people, ‘at least 100’ displaced

A massive fire in Burnaby overnight sent two people to hospital early Tuesday morning.

The Burnaby Fire Department tells 1130 NewsRadio its crews were called to a U-shaped, three-storey walk-up apartment building near Kingsway and Jersey Street, right across from Central Park, around 12:30 a.m.

“We have a fourth alarm fire going on. We’ve got over 50 firefighters and 13 engine companies [here],” Assistant Chief Gavin Summers explained.

“We’re pouring water on this fire. … This fire is a stubborn fire, a dangerous fire. We’re in defensive operations right now trying to put it out,” he added.

Summers adds the two taken to hospital were treated for smoke inhalation, but their status is currently unknown.

“Firefighters rescued them from their suites, and they suffered some smoke inhalation, so they were handed off to BCEHS who took them to Burnaby General Hospital,” Summers said.

“It’s quite a large [building]. There’s going to be a lot of people displaced from this building, I would say at least 100 people are displaced, and they’re being put up by emergency social services right now,” Summer explains.

Fire crews will be at the site all day the assistant chief adds, and when the fire is deemed out, an investigation will be underway.

“No one’s going to be able to get close to it until we deem it safe by structural engineers. So it’s going to be an all-day event.”

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With files from Mike Lloyd.