In the early hours of Tuesday morning, a fierce fire wreaked havoc at a townhouse complex in Langley, leaving five homes severely damaged and nearly 16 residents scrambling for safety.

The flames erupted around 5:22 a.m. at the Nature's Landing strata complex, sending shockwaves through the community. Neighbors quickly sprang into action, attempting to douse the inferno until firefighters arrived.

"We had to escalate to a second alarm immediately due to the scale of the fire," said Russ Jenkins, the Township's deputy fire chief. A rapid response from about 10 fire units, comprising roughly 35 firefighters, was dispatched to tackle the raging blaze.

Eyewitness accounts reveal the chaotic scene as residents were awakened by sirens and frantic cries for help. One resident recounted her experience: "When I opened the blinds, I saw everything engulfed in flames— it was pure chaos." Though she was initially ordered to evacuate, she returned later to assess the damage.

Another resident rushed to help, pounding on doors to alert neighbors to the danger. "I saw a bright light and knew something was wrong," he said.

Around 5:15 a.m., one local woman heard the urgent calls of a young girl shouting, "Fire, fire, fire!" This horrifying wake-up call was just the beginning, as she watched the flames consume a pickup truck in the driveway of one of the units, sparking the spread to nearby homes.

Investigators from the Langley RCMP are working diligently to uncover the cause of the inferno, turning their attention to a vehicle that may have ignited the fire. Sergeant Zynal Sharoom noted, "Preliminary findings indicate that the fire likely started in a vehicle before engulfing adjacent residences."

As the fire was brought under control, firefighters continued to comb through the site for lingering hot spots, while police began their investigation around mid-morning. "This is a large townhouse complex, so we’ll bring in structural engineers to ensure the integrity of the buildings," Jenkins added.

As support is organized for the displaced families, Emergency Social Services is stepping in to provide assistance in the aftermath of this tragic event.

Stay tuned for updates as this story develops and the investigation unfolds.