Fire at multi-unit Langley building damages restaurant
Just after 6:30 a.m., fire crews from the city and township of Langley responded to a fire at Viva Mexico Restaurant, located at the front of a building at 20559 Fraser Hwy.
Published Oct 05, 2024 • Last updated 17 minutes ago • 2 minute read
A large blaze erupted at a Langley restaurant early Saturday morning, sending plumes of smoke billowing into the sky and prompting a swift evacuation of the one-way street in the city’s downtown core.
Just after 6:30 a.m., fire crews from the city and township of Langley responded to an exterior fire at Viva Mexico Restaurant, located at the front of a building at 20559 Fraser Hwy.
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The blaze has left multiple businesses shut, residents displaced and the community reeling.
“We can tell you that no one was hurt, but the building was completely destroyed and many businesses in the area could be potentially facing smoke and water damage,” said Teri James of the Downtown Langley Business Association.
Brigette Mayer, who operates Harmony Animal Training and Behaviour in the back of the same building as Viva Mexico, expressed her shock at the unfolding disaster.
“Photos of the fire were the first thing I saw when I woke up this morning and logged into social media. I was like ‘That’s my building,” said Mayer.
Mayer expressed concern for other small businesses in the building, including a physiotherapy clinic next to hers and offices upstairs, which contained a provincial candidate’s political office.
“This is going to affect a lot of us here for a while to come.”
Fraser Highway between 204th and 206th Streets is closed to traffic as firefighters continue to battle the flames.
A large area of downtown Langley City is cordoned off as firefighters put out a blaze that started at a restaurant then spread to adjoining businesses in the 20000-block of Fraser Highway Saturday, October 5, 2024. Photo by Jason Payne /PNGShortly after 10 a.m., Shane Constantinescu launched a live stream on Facebook, informing customers that his business, Constant Collectibles, located next to the restaurant, would not open as planned.
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“We’re gonna be closed till further notice — if we’re even open again,” Constantinescu said, visibly shaken. “The entire front of Viva Mexico just collapsed, and they pulled us off the scene. The fire is shooting out everywhere. It’s not good.”
Forever Yours Lingerie, also situated along the thoroughfare, posted its closure notice around 11 a.m. on social media.
“This is absolutely devastating for our community of downtown Langley. We are sending our love and prayers to our neighbours Viva Mexico during this heartbreaking time,” wrote its owner, Sonya Perkins.
“I’m sitting here watching it burn to the ground literally crying realizing how quickly you can lose everything. Times are so incredibly hard for small businesses right now.”
A large area of downtown Langley City is cordoned off as firefighters put out a blaze that started at a restaurant then spread to adjoining businesses in the 20000-block of Fraser Highway Saturday, October 5, 2024. Photo by Jason Payne /PNGAmid the sadness, Langley City Mayor Nathan Pachal expressed relief on Saturday afternoon that fire crews had successfully contained the blaze to the multi-unit building.
“The Fraser Highway one-way is over 100 years old, a lot of these buildings are from the turn of the century. To be able to stop the fire from spreading is a feat in itself,” he told Postmedia News.
“For the residential units in the building east of the restaurant, this means they will have a home to return to,” Pachal said, acknowledging that water and smoke damage will likely occur.
Authorities are urging residents in the area to keep their doors and windows shut and wear a face mask outdoors.
A large area of downtown Langley City is cordoned off as firefighters put out a blaze that started at a restaurant then spread to adjoining businesses in the 20000-block of Fraser Highway Saturday, October 5, 2024. Photo by Jason Payne /PNGArticle content
