Massive fire destroys top floors of Langley condo complex
Posted July 17, 2020 6:49 pm.
Last Updated July 18, 2020 11:39 am.
LANGLEY (NEWS 1130) — A massive fire destroyed the top two floors of a Langley condo complex Friday afternoon.
The fire broke out at Madison Place on 56th Avenue just before 6 p.m., and rush hour commuters reported a thick cloud of black smoke visible from the highway.
Huge Langley condo fire @NEWS1130 @CTVNews @CBCNews pic.twitter.com/JebvucOVNK
— Tim VanHemert (@timvanhemert) July 18, 2020
@NEWS1130 Some pictures of the Langley fire from my friend who lives across the street pic.twitter.com/8pBAZU3Jv7
— Adam Forsythe (@adamforsythe) July 18, 2020
Around 8 p.m., NEWS 1130’s Bruce Claggett said the 49-unit building was smouldering, and the smell of smoke wafted through the entire city.
“This fire was hard to miss, you could smell the smoke all over the city of Langley, at one point you could see black smoke coming off the building for hours, intermittent with white smoke as it continued to burn in different sections,” he said.
“The fire crews were trying to keep people away just so they’re not inhaling this, and especially now inhaling it through masks. A massive fire, and a lot of damage to this building.
Roof and half dozen units of 5 storey #LangleyBC condo complex destroyed. Crews trying to put out fire in this vehicle next to the building. pic.twitter.com/gEpGj8254m
— Bruce Claggett (@BruceClaggett) July 18, 2020
Emergency social services assisted those displaced.
“Those units on the upper two floors are almost completely destroyed, and the people are being hooked up with some sort of accommodation tonight so they can actually figure out where they’re going to live,” Claggett said.
Residents of the (19730 56 Ave) Madison Place condo complex are being assisted – many now have no place to live. Upper two floors of the 49 unit building are destroyed – cause not confirmed. pic.twitter.com/rpU1TExq9i
— Bruce Claggett (@BruceClaggett) July 18, 2020
Crews from several departments were called in to fight the fire.
56th Avenue was closed in both directions from 200th to 196 Streets.
There has been no report on whether or not anyone was injured, and the cause is under investigation.
