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The fire broke out at around 4 a.m. in the 400 block of Columbia Street.
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Emergency crews closed down a section of Columbia Street early Monday morning as firefighters battled a blaze that has destroyed a building in downtown New Westminster.
The fire broke out around 3:15 a.m. in a commercial building near the Columbia SkyTrain station.
Flames and smoke were seen pouring out of the top floor of the structure which contains the MagnetiQ Club Lounge nightclub. The venue has been closed for more than a year due to COVID-19 restrictions but was reportedly undergoing renovations.
The building is also home to the Heritage Grill restaurant and Happy Buddha Tattoo.
Ketan Doshi, who lives two blocks north of the blaze, says he headed to scene after he was forced to vacate his home around 4:20 a.m. after black smoke set off the smoke alarms in his building.
“The flames got the wires burnt at the near electric pole and in few minutes there were crackling sounds with sparks. I also heard a little explosion that may have been the pressurized rooftop HVAC system/compressor blowing up but I am not 100 per cent sure,” he said.
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Traffic was cut off on Columbia, the city’s main drag, between 6th and 4th streets as firefighters dealt with the structure fire. The stretch of road was reopened on Monday night.
The city of New Westminster also shut off power in the area as a result of the fire.
“I’m saddened to see the news of the fire on Columbia St this morning. This is absolutely devastating for several local businesses and for our community,” New Westminster Mayor Jonathan Cote said in a statement. “It’s been a busy year for New Westminster Fire and Rescue Service, thank you for your efforts in controlling the blaze.”
The city’s popular Pier Park just reopened last month after an arson fire last September scorched the century-old wooden pier.
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sbrown@postmedia.com
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