Langley City firefighters were kept busy early Tuesday morning, after two suspicious fires, one torching a storage shed attached to Ashoka Indian restaurant and the other inside an apartment building.
Around midnight, firefighters were called to a shed which was fully engulfed in flames, in an alleyway in the 20500 block of Fraser Highway. The shed is attached to the back of the restaurant and used for storage. In total, 19 firefighters battled the blaze, managing to put out the flames before they spread to the attached businesses, said City deputy fire chief Bob Scott. Firefighters cut their way into the restaurant to check if the fire had spread inside. They also ventilated neighbouring businesses.
Thirty minutes later, at 12:36 a.m., firefighters were called out to smoke in the third floor hallway of the Berry Road apartments in the 5400 block of 208 Street.
Residents had already evacuated the building.
“A garbage can was lit on fire in the laundry room on the third floor,” said Scott.
“An occupant in the building used the fire extinguisher to put out the fire before we arrived.”
Residents were allowed to go back in and Langley RCMP along with fire investigators are working on both suspicious fires, he said.
“These fires are concerning,” Scott.
The fire at Ashoka restaurant has forced neighbouring business One Fish Two Fish to close, due to smoke.
The popular fresh seafood store will re-open on Saturday. Owner Heather Jenkins said the smoke damage caused her to throw out her entire inventory, including all fresh, frozen and dry goods. Other businesses were also impacted by the smoke.
If you have any information or saw anything suspicious around either of these fires call Langley RCMP at 604-532-3200, or if you wish to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
