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WEDNESDAY May 20, 2015 • www.langleytimes.com
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Construction site razed in massive fire RESIDENTS OF MURRAYVILLE CONDO EVACUATED AT 4 A.M. AS BUILDING BURNS NEXT DOOR
Donations are being collected for fire victims MONIQUE TAMMINGA Times Reporter
R US S ELL HODG KIN Spe c ial to The Time s
Township of Langley crews work to extinguish a massive fire that broke out just before 4 a.m. Sunday in a wood frame building that was under construction in Murrayville. Residents of two nearby condominium complex awoke to the sounds of fire alarms and police officers pounding on doors. More than 200 people were initially evacuated from the Murray Green and Autumn Ridge complexes. Units along the east side of Murray Green suffered varying levels of heat and water damage. Firefighters pulled down ceilings in fourth floor units to check for fire in the building’s roofline and some doors were broken in by police during the evacuation. B REN D A AN D E R SO N Ti m e s Re po r t e r
Residents of a Murrayville condominium complex will be out of their homes for some time after a massive fire destroyed an apartment building under construction next door early Sunday. Just before 4 a.m. the wood-frame structure,
which was being built at the corner of 221 Street and 49 Avenue, caught fire and was quickly engulfed in flames. Township fire crews used two ladder trucks to pour water on the blaze, using the force of the hoses to knock burning walls inward and contain the fire. At the back of the site,
several loud explosions sent bursts of orange flame and clouds of black smoke curling into the air. The east side of Murray Green, a condominium complex that is separated from the site of the fire by a fence, suffered both heat and water damage, rendering a number of units uninhabitable, said
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Langley Township district fire chief Bryant Ross. “Everything on the east side has some level of damage,” he said. Firefighters pulled out ceilings in some fourthfloor units to ensure there was no fire inside the condo’s roof line. All of the building’s residents got out safely, however the evacuation
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didn’t go as smoothly as police would have liked. The fire was first noticed by a Langley RCMP member who was returning to the main detachment, located one block east of the burning building. “Regardless of the fact that a fire alarm was Continued Page 5
London Drugs Langley is stepping up to help those displaced by the massive fire after finding out three of their own staff live in the affected condo complex in Murrayville. “Three of our own staff live in the building. I got one call and then another and another saying they couldn’t come to work in the morning because of the fire,” said Justin Martell, department manager of the Langley London Drugs store. “We were pretty concerned, but everybody is safe. “Now we just want to do what we can to help. Some people are going to be out of their homes for a long time.” London Drugs at the 202 Street and 66 Avenue location is taking food and water donations. All of the checkouts are accepting cash donations that will go directly to those impacted. At least three units in Murray Green suffered extensive water and smoke damage. Kim Snow of Kimz Angels is able to pick up donations of furniture or good clothing. She has some furniture and clothing already that she will be giving out, but could use more. Call Kim at 604-838-6579 or email kimzangels@hotmail.com.
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