One taken to hospital, residents displaced after White Rock apartment fire

One person was taken to hospital and multiple residents have been displaced after an apartment fire in White Rock on Saturday afternoon.

Fire services were called out to the 30-unit building located on Thrift Avenue near Merkin Street where they found the person, who was taken by air ambulance to a hospital in Vancouver to be assessed, according to Ed Wolfe, deputy chief for White Rock Fire Rescue.

Wolfe tells CItyNews the fire was contained to one unit, but there was water and smoke damage throughout the building.

“Power has been shut off to the building at this point in time,” he said. “So all residents have been displaced.”

It is unclear when the residents will be able to return home.

“We are waiting for an electrical assessment to be done at the building before we can determine who would be allowed to get back in,” he said.

Wolfe said the cause is unknown, but there will be an investigation.

He said the fire has been extinguished.

“We always leave a crew there on what we call ‘fire watch’ just to ensure there’s no hotspots or any type of rekindle,” he said.

Wolfe is asking people to avoid the area if they can.