Fire victims praise emergency crews
LANGLEY: More than 150 people evacuated after blaze from construction site threatens nearby building
Residents of a Langley townhouse complex are praising the quick actions of emergency crews as a giant fire swept through a construction site precariously close to their building.
More than 150 residents of the Murray Green townhouse complex in Langley were evacuated after a fire Sunday morning ripped through a housing project under construction at 221st Street and 49th Avenue.
By late Monday residents were still waiting to get back into their homes after they were forced to flee as fear mounted that the blaze would move to their units.
“It was terrifying,” said resident Peter Cox of the fire. “The amount of heat and the height of the flames was incredible. The police did a great job of getting everybody out.”
As the fire moved through the construction site, police went door-todoor warning people to get out.
“The cops came through and banged on everybody’s door,” he added. “They deserve a big pat on the back.”
Tamara Omelaniec, 34, and husband Derek Watson first heard a fire alarm and wondered if it was set off accidentally. But Watson, whose unit is at the back of the complex, recalls looking out a window and seeing a massive fireball approaching.
“I came to the window and looked out and the flames were six or seven storeys high and it was curling over the roof,” he said.
He too said the fire department did an excellent job of trying to contain the fire to the construction site and the police are to be commended for moving quickly to evacuate the large complex.
“Hats off to the police and firemen,” he said. “They were excellent.”
Langley RCMP Sgt. Ravi Pawar said they’re still gathering evidence at the scene.
“We haven’t been able to confirm anything yet as far as the cause,” he said.
Pawar said it appears the construction site was equipped with security cameras, but not a security guard.
One police officer was taken to hospital from exhaustion and smoke inhalation, but was treated and released, said Pawar. No one else was injured.
Fortunately, he said, a Mountie was on his way back to the Langley detachment office and drove by the construction site and saw the fire as it was in the early stages.
He said police knew that the raging fire could jump into the neighbouring homes and had to move quickly with the evacuation order.
“We evacuated about 150 people,” he said.
Deborah and Burnell Johnston on Monday were at a nearby recreation facility awaiting word on when they could return to their townhouse.
“It looked like a sunrise at 4 a.m.,” Burnell said of the fire. ”The roar of the fire was tremendous.”
Deborah said it’s a concern that there was no one guarding the construction project.
“That is upsetting,” she said. “If they had someone on the site this would not have happened.”
Anne Massey is the complex’s acting strata president and said the neighbouring construction site has been an ongoing concern due to the lack of security. At least nine of the units in her building had heavy smoke and water damage due to the intense heat and are unlivable, she said.
“They are still assessing what happened, but everybody thinks it is arson,” Massey said.