Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / A fire broke out at the Camelot building, 9175 Mary Street, Tuesday evening in Chilliwack – the second fire in four days at this same building. Over 30 firefighters responded. Several people were transported to hospital due to smoke inhalation.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Downtown Chilliwack fire

UPDATE: 2 people transported to hospital after fire at Chilliwack high-rise complex Tuesday evening

May 6, 2025 | 8:05 PM

UPDATE: Chilliwack Fire Chief Andrew Brown has issued a news release connected to last night’s structure fire.

“On May 06, 2025, at approximately 7 p.m., the Chilliwack Fire Department was dispatched to a report of an apartment complex fire in the 9100 block of Mary Street. Forty firefighters responded from Halls 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6. Upon arrival, fire crews encountered heavy fire and black smoke showing from a sixth-floor apartment, with multiple occupants trapped on the fire floor.

“Initial fire crews quickly deployed to the fire floor to engage the fire while establishing a water supply. As additional crews arrived, they began rescue and evacuation operations to ensure all occupants made it safely out of the building. Thanks to the quick and effective tactics employed by crews, fire and smoke damage was limited to the sixth floor of the building.”

Fire Chief Brown says there were no firefighter injuries reported; however, two occupants were transported to the hospital with smoke inhalation.

Fire Chief Brown says most occupants were able to reoccupy the building, with Chilliwack Emergency Support Services (ESS) Team on hand to provide support to displaced occupants.

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The fire is under investigation by RCMP with support from Chilliwack Fire Department, and is not considered connected to the fire that occurred on May 03, 2025.

Original story from 8:05 p.m. Tuesday night: 

CHILLIWACK — A fire broke out in a downtown Chilliwack high-rise apartment complex Tuesday evening, the second blaze in four days at the same building, prompting at least 35 firefighters from multiple fire halls in Chilliwack to respond.

According to scanner traffic, firefighters were called to The Camelot building at 9175 Mary Street Tuesday evening at about 7 p.m. after flames and smoke emanated from the south side of the building.

Visible flames and thick black smoke could be seen on the balcony of one of the floors.

Fire crews quickly called for a second-alarm due to the severity of the blaze.

A witness at the scene, William Snow, estimated there were six ambulances, two air support units, eight fire trucks and scores of RCMP vehicles.

Image: William Snow / Fire crews.

Firefighters told dispatch they were systematically going through each floor to try to rescue as many trapped residents as possible.

Image: Contributed / Fire crews attack Tuesday evening’s fire.

A witness at the scene, Julie Hiscock, told Fraser Valley Today she saw three people being loaded into ambulances, which left the scene with lights and sirens activated.

Image: Contributed / Firefighters work to suppress a fire at a high rise apartment on Mary Street Tuesday evening.

Scanner traffic indicated multiple residents had suffered smoke inhalation.

The fire was knocked down at approximately 7:30 p.m.

Image: William Snow / A firefighter climbs a ladder at the scene of Tuesday evening’s fire.

A helicopter launch was considered at one point but was not needed as of 7:55 p.m.

Firefighters told dispatch at 8:20 p.m. there was a “lot of smoke damage” within the building. Chilliwack firefighters remain on scene as of 8:20 p.m.

Salvage operations are underway as of 8:30 p.m. Fire crews tell dispatch the fire is fully extinguished and overhauled, and crews are systematically venting the building.