“It is a busy night on 7th avenue as residents of the Chartwell Carrington home had to be evacuated to St. Joseph’s Parish before being transferred to other locations. There are many charities, churches, and centers that have stepped up and reached out to help. Please, if you can avoid going to 7th avenue tonight to avoid traffic jams and let the families who need to retrieve their loved ones have access. Mission Fire Rescue response and reception center has been opened at the Mission Leisure Center and all family and friends are directed to meet there and avoid the building vicinity. (All “residents” please be sure to register with ESS onsite).
Thank you to our first responders and please be safe.”
UPDATE #3: JC Liquidators Junk Removal & Moving Services says it was able to get a few residents out of the non-burning side of the Chartwell residence. “Very unfortunate in our community Chartwell has suffered a huge blow. We were able to get a few residents out of the non burning side. We have pizzas ordered in conjunction (with) Red Tomato Pies and Mission City Pizza. We have 10 boxes of tea from Tim Hortons on the way.”
UPDATE #2: Mission Fire Rescue Service says a reception centre has been established at the Mission Leisure Centre.
“The Emergency Support Services (ESS) team is working closely with Fraser Health to ensure that all medical needs of evacuees are being met,” MFRS said. “For safety and reunification tracking, anyone leaving the centre must be signed out at the registration desk. The Reception Centre does not need any donations at this time.”
UPDATE 7:45 P.M.: Mission RCMP Corporal Harrison Mohr released the following statement at 7:40 p.m.:
“Residents of the retirement home are being transported by bus to the Mission Leisure Centre, at 7th Avenue and Grand Street. Family members coming to meet loved ones should attend the Leisure Centre, not the retirement residence. Emergency Support Services are on scene there to help evacuees.”
“Staff from the retirement residence are still in the process of trying to confirm whether everyone was safely evacuated. This process may take some time due to the ongoing process of transporting everyone to the Leisure Centre.”
“To be clear, this is the Chartwell Carrington House, on the south side of 7th Avenue (NOT the Chartwell Cedarbrooke retirement residence further west on 7th Avenue).”
“Additional updates will be provided as they become available. For the time being, please avoid the area, to allow first responders to continue their work, and to ensure any remaining evacuees are easily identified.”
Original story:
MISSION — Multiple firefighters and engines are battling a structure fire that broke out at Chartwell Carrington, a retirement home in Mission, Monday evening.
Mission Fire Rescue Service crews remain on scene as of 6:35 p.m. after a fire broke out at Chartwell Carrington on 7th Avenue.
Image: Francis Ward.
Huge columns of flames and smoke billowed from the multi-unit retirement home as of approximately 6 p.m.
Image: Francis Ward.
Firefighters radioed dispatch to say a search of the third floor was conducted and clear, and crews have been checking each floor to ensure no one is left inside the building.
Firefighters have warned each other on the scanner to watch out for parts of the building that could collapse. Some of the firefighters had been asked at one point to return to the staging area.
Multiple ambulances have been dispatched. RCMP are on scene likewise.
Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service has been reportedly paged for mutual aid.
One person reported on social media that all the residents are out in the parking lot with their walkers.
Social media users are saying 7th Avenue is closed at the Cedar Valley Connector in Mission.
People on Facebook are offering blankets and walkers to the seniors who will be displaced, judging by the pictures from Francis Ward that show a largely destroyed four-storey building.
Another person on Facebook reported that the Chartwell residents are at Eider and the first side road off 7th Avenue.
Firefighters now say it’s all clear in Building 1 (7:07 p.m.).
North Fraser Fire has been asked to assist with mutual aid to help Mission Fire Rescue Service with core coverage. They are now en route as of 7:07 p.m. to assist with core coverage from the scene of the fire.
Mission fire crews have asked the Maple Ridge Fire & Rescue Services duty chief to be notified about this major four-storey fire.
An emergency centre is now being set up at a rec centre in Mission.
The Mission Salvation Army has been asked to attend and/or provide supplies for nourishment, as per a firefighter at 7:07 p.m.
Command at 6th Avenue say fire crews have checked multiple floors. A confinement crew continues to battle the blaze as of 7:15 p.m.
Firefighters told dispatch at 7:22 p.m. that nurses have dropped off three car loads of blankets.
Furefighters are working to contain a fire in a second building.
Firefighters are alluding to an air unit that could land at the Mission Raceway at approximately 7:40 p.m.