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Sapperton residents displaced by fire
The fire happened at an apartment building along Hospital Street on Monday evening
Ria Renouf
March 28, 2023
A photo of the building that caught fire, posted by Mayor Patrick Johnstone on Tuesday morning/@pjnewwest on Twitter
A fire in an older three-story apartment building was eventually contained to a couple of suites on Monday evening, but it’s meant that a number of people were displaced.
Emergency Support Services is coordinating with New West Community Church to collect clothing, toiletries, and grocery gift card donations to support displaced families following the 311 Hospital St. apartment fire on March 27. For more information visit: newwestcity.ca/2023/03/28/don…
— City of New Westminster (@New_Westminster)
12:45 AM • Mar 29, 2023
“It appears there were no serious injuries, and Emergency Social Services (ESS) sprang into action to help support the folks displaced by the fire,” Mayor Patrick Johnstone tweeted out Tuesday morning.
The cause of the fire has not been disclosed.
First word of the fire—which happened along the 300 block of Hospital St.—came out via tweets through School Board Trustee Danielle Connelly.
“Hoping everyone is safe,” she tweeted.
Hoping everyone is safe. Fire on #HospitalStreet#NewWest
— Danielle Connelly (@DConnellyNW)
2:06 AM • Mar 28, 2023
Toward the end of the council meeting, Coun. Jaimie McEvoy remarked that he’d heard 20 people had been displaced.
“Most tenants were able to return to their suites (with fire escort) to collect important belongings. Temporary accommodations are being set up through ESS. The building systems need inspection, but most may be able to be back in their homes in a couple of days,” the Mayor explained.
Johnstone also gave shoutouts to New West Fire, ESS staff, and New West Community Church.
“[New West Community Church] opened their doors, and took care of the vicitims [sic] needs any way they could.”
I want to thank the Fire Crews, the ESS staff, and the volunteers who showed up to help, especially the folks at New West Community Church who opened their doors, and took care of the victims needs any way they could... 5/n
— Patrick Johnstone (@PJNewWest)
3:32 PM • Mar 28, 2023
Johnstone says if you’d like to help, the best bet at this time is to drop donations off at New West Community Church; they’re located at 322 Hospital St.