Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / Two Chilliwack Fire Department engines were dispatched to Elim Village in Garrison Tuesday morning (Oct. 15) for a residential smoke alarm, prompting the evacuation of the Redwood building for resident safety.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Chilliwack Fire Department

Seniors building in Chilliwack briefly evacuated due to smoke Tuesday morning

Oct 15, 2024 | 10:22 AM

CHILLIWACK — Two Chilliwack Fire Department engines were dispatched to Elim Village in Garrison Tuesday morning (Oct. 15) for a residential smoke alarm, prompting the evacuation of the Redwood building for resident safety.

According to scanner traffic, Chilliwack firefighters were paged for a residential smoke alarm at approximately 9:26 a.m. at 45460 Chehalis Drive, where the Redwood building is located.

According to a maintenance staff member on scene, smoke may have originated from sparking lithium batteries contained within a storage area, or closet. However, Chilliwack fire officials have not officially confirmed the cause of the smoke or related details.

Over two dozen seniors were evacuated from the Redwood building. Several Elim Village staff were outside the building to escort and assist seniors who reside in the Redwood. The impacted seniors headed over to a muster point a good distance away. The building’s loud smoke alarm continued to beep for at least 20 minutes while firefighters investigated the smoke alarm.

Chilliwack Fire Department asked emergency dispatch to have B.C. Emergency Health Services paramedics respond because at least one patient suffered smoke inhalation. Firefighters told dispatch they would bring any impacted patients out to B.C. EHS, who were staging outside the building.

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Firefighters told dispatch at 10:36 a.m. that most of the smoke has been cleared from the parkade below, or next to, the building. Fire personnel will remain on scene to assist with prevention.

Firefighters told emergency dispatch at 10:53 a.m. that Engine 1 has cleared from the scene. Smoke has fully vented from the parkade, the alarm has been reset, and a fire prevention unit is on its way to the building.

A fire prevention unit is on scene at 11:02 a.m. as a follow-up to this morning’s report of smoke. That same unit has since cleared the Chehalis Avenue scene as of 11:48 a.m.

Fraser Valley Today has contacted Chilliwack Fire Department officials for more information about this morning’s incident.