RCMP Says Police Saved Lives by Evacuation during Massive B.C. Fire

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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A statement issued by RCMP has thanked Langley Police for saving dozens of lives from around B.C.’s Lower Mainland when they responded to a massive fire on Sunday. The fire started at an under construction condominium building a short while before 4 a.m., however due to immense heat and flames up to 50 feet in the air, the two apartment buildings behind the structure also caught on fire.

A statement issued by local RCMP on Sunday explained that the first officer on scene requested for all available backup from Langley police to help evacuate the inhabited apartments. Thereafter approximately 40 officers from the Surrey RCMP, the Abbotsford Police, the Integrated Road Safety Unit and Police Dog Services arrived to help with the evacuation. Officers succeeded to evacuate all 200 suites by 4:30 a.m., after which local buses transported residents to a nearby recreation centre, where about 150 people are now staying. Even though one Langley officer was taken to hospital with smoke inhalation and exhaustion, he is now released.

According to the police, the preemptive evacuation saved precious lives and avoided any serious injuries. The RCMP stated that “Langley RCMP is thankful for the amazing team effort to evacuate two condominium structures,” adding that “there is no doubt, lives were saved.” Langley RCMP Insp. Rob de Boersap alleged that “we are certainly grateful no one sustained any serious injuries and our own member was released only after a short visit to hospital,” adding that “this was an amazing team effort which thankfully had a positive outcome.”