A devastating fire engulfed a popular Japanese restaurant in downtown New Westminster on a Tuesday night.
The fiery blaze was first noticed at Ki Sushi, located on 8th Street near Columbia Street, around 10 p.m. yesterday.
An employee working nearby shared her experience, stating that she initially detected the scent of smoke when starting her late-night shift. Despite her initial calmness due to her familiarity with fire behavior and alarm systems from her construction background, she soon became alarmed as the building was swiftly evacuated.
The evacuation left her and other individuals stranded outside for several hours, as firefighters battled the flames, as depicted in images from the scene showing local streets cordoned off and water being directed at the restaurant.
Efforts to gather more information from the New Westminster Fire Service are currently underway.