UPDATE: Six families displaced by carport fire Monday morning

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CHILLIWACK — The Chilliwack Fire Department was dispatched Monday morning around 5:35 a.m. for a carport fire that partially burned a residential building nearby on Edward Street near Spadina Avenue.

Multiple fire engines remained on scene at 8:10 a.m. Monday morning (Feb. 19) as did two RCMP units with yellow caution tape around them.

The carport is believed to be attached to 9250 Edward Street, a multi-unit residential building. The building had visible burn marks and significant fire damage on the exterior of the building above the carport. Several windows on the north-facing side of the building appeared to be missing due to the fire.

At least three vehicles parked in a carport were fully torched by the fire. Yellow caution tape was strung across the carport containing the burned vehicles.

Witnesses said residents of the multi-unit building at 9250 Edward Street were reportedly evacuated and escaped safely.

The Chilliwack Fire Department released a statement mid-morning Monday that indicated 37 firefighters responded from Halls 1, 4 and 6. On arrival, fire personnel reported heavy fire and smoke venting from three fully involved vehicles in the carport, with fire extending up into the semi-detached six-unit apartment complex.

All occupants of the apartment complex had safely evacuated from the building. Initial arriving crews called for a second alarm, and quickly began an offensive fire attack while securing a water supply to bring the fire under control. Firefighters effectively suppressed the fire, minimizing fire spread to the apartment complex. The apartment complex sustained significant fire and smoke damage, displacing six families. Adjacent buildings sustained radiant heat damage, and three vehicles were destroyed in the fire. There were no firefighter or civilian injuries.

The fire is under investigation by RCMP and Chilliwack Fire personnel  to determine its cause. If anyone has any information about this fire, they are asked to call the RCMP at 604-792-4611 or anonymously through Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.upperfraservalleycrimestoppers.ca.