Firefighters Battle Major Blaze in Downtown Langley City

Firefighting crews are engaged in an intense operation to control a massive fire engulfing a restaurant located on Fraser Highway in Langley City. As of early Saturday afternoon, excavators have begun dismantling the structure to prevent the flames from causing further damage.

The City of Langley Fire Department’s Chief, Scott Kennedy, revealed that the emergency services were alerted to the blaze at the Viva Mexico Restaurant at approximately 6:30 a.m. Upon arriving at the scene, fire personnel discovered smoke emerging from different sections of the building and located a significant fire within the premises.

Chief Kennedy commented, “My understanding is this may have started in sort of the back of the restaurant. That’s where we have found a large volume of fire.” He emphasized that investigations are ongoing to identify the precise origin of the fire.

The fire’s intensity has led to several localized collapses within the building, prompting a strategic retreat of the firefighting teams for safety reasons. “We made the decision to pull the crews out and set up a defensive role,” Kennedy explained, citing structural damage due to the fire’s progression.

The Langley RCMP has cordoned off a section of Fraser Highway between 204th and 206th Streets as a precaution. Concerns have been raised about toxic substances such as asbestos in the smoke, and residents have been advised to keep windows closed and wear face masks outdoors.

Brigette Mayer, who runs a business in the building, expressed her distress at the incident. “Photos of the fire were the first thing I saw when I woke up this morning,” she said, concerned for the impact on local small businesses.

Mayor Nathan Pachal of Langley City expressed relief that firefighters managed to contain the blaze within the multi-unit building. He noted the historical significance of the buildings in this part of downtown Langley, dating over 100 years old.

This ongoing incident has disrupted multiple businesses in the area, including Constant Collectibles and Forever Yours Lingerie, both of which have temporarily closed. The Langley fire department, along with assistance from neighboring Langley Township, is expected to remain on site for several more hours as efforts to control the situation continue.

There is currently no information on what initially caused the fire. This is a developing story, and updates will follow as more details become available.