British Columbia

Burnaby apartment building engulfed in large fire

Smoke is pouring out of a three-storey apartment building on Linwood Street in Burnaby, B.C.

Firefighters struggling to put out flames of 3-alarm fire

Firefighters have been battling the flames on an apartment complex in Burnaby, B.C. since early Tuesday evening. (Kaare Long / Twitter)

Firefighters are battling a large fire at a four-storey apartment building on Linwood Street in Burnaby, B.C. 

Dozens of firefighters have been trying to stop the spread of flames from the three-alarm fire at 3950 Linwood Street.

"It was already out of the roof when we arrived," said Burnaby Deputy Fire Chief Joe Robertson. "It was a fast moving fire."  

Robertson said flames were 15 to 20 feet tall when firefighters arrived. 

All 28 suites in the building have been evacuated. Two residents were sent to hospital for smoke inhalation, and one firefighter twisted his ankle. 

The fire — which was called in by a passer-by just before 5 p.m. PT — began on the fourth floor of the building and has caused water and smoke damage throughout one side of the complex. 

The cause is still under investigation.

With files from Jeff Harrington