The Langley City Fire Rescue Service has confirmed that a section of Fraser Highway near 201 Street in Langley is now open to traffic following a fire at a construction site early Sunday morning.
Fire officials, in collaboration with the Langley RCMP, are currently looking into the cause of the fire, which is being treated as suspicious.
Fire Chief Scott Kennedy, speaking with 1130 NewsRadio, expressed concerns about the fire occurring at a building under construction, raising questions about its origin.
Investigations are underway, gathering information from witnesses and surveillance footage in the vicinity.
Extinguishing the fire proved to be challenging for firefighters, who opted to combat it from outside rather than risking entering the building.
A major obstacle faced by the crews was the inability to access the heat sources due to the structure of the roof impeding direct firefighting efforts.
Kennedy elaborated on the difficulties encountered during the operation, mentioning the complexity of fires in failing buildings and the lingering heat in void spaces even after the flames appear to be extinguished.
Despite the challenges, Kennedy commended his team for their efforts in containing the blaze and preventing further damage to neighboring structures.
An assessment by a structural engineer has been initiated to evaluate the extent of damage and determine the necessary steps moving forward in collaboration with the building’s owner.