Video – Blaze destroys apartment building after car drives into unit

UPDATE: The Fort St. John RCMP have released more information about the fire and a shooting that happened before the building was set on fire. Click here to read the full story.

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Firefighters tackled a blaze at an apartment building in Fort St. John this afternoon after a vehicle drove into one of the units. 

The fire erupted in the 9800 block at the corner of 103rd Avenue and 98th Street at after 1:00 p.m. on April 18th.

Twenty-five firefighters – including from the fire departments in Fort St. John, Charlie Lake and Taylor – rushed to the scene and found a vehicle had driven through one of the units.

The fire had quickly spread to the remaining apartments, and the 14-unit block was deemed “a total loss”, according to a press release from the City of Fort St. John.

Crews worked through this afternoon to prevent further spread.

The fire has been deemed suspicious and handed over to the Fort St. John RCMP for investigation.

Energeticcity.ca reporter Steve Berard, who lives in an apartment in the building, said he heard a large bang before evacuating. 

“I went downstairs in case it was something falling over in my apartment, and when I didn’t see anything wrong, I looked outside and saw a huge pillar of smoke and some flames from the other side of the building,” Berard said.

“I ran back inside to get my dog and then got out safely.”

Anyone who has been affected by the fire should call 311, the City of Fort St. John said.

Energeticcity.ca has reached out to the Fort St. John RCMP and will update this story as more information becomes available.