the willows

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'Worst in decades' fire forces 50 from their homes in Mission apartment building Mission deputy fire chief Larry Watkinson on Mission Tenants at a Mission apartment building were recovering Friday after a terrifying fire swept through their building in the middle of the night. About 50 residents at the Willows apartments at Ryan Street and 3rd Avenue made it out safely under difficult conditions. Firefighters called the blaze the "worst in decades" because of the building's wooden structure and combustible vinyl siding. Deputy fire chief Larry Watkinson said there was no time to lose as fire spread through three storeys and 33 units around 3 a.m. "You can imagine getting your door kicked down by firemen and being dragged out of bed without a moment's notice. Panic sets in. We didn't have a moment to spare," he said. "It was a frantic effort. We were doing fairly rough rescues, breaking into their homes. A lot of them weren't sure what was happening. We'd put them on the lawn and go back in," he said. "The guys here haven't seen a fire like this in decades," he said. Several residents were plucked from their balconies by ladders, but most were taken out through smoke-filled corridors by the all-volunteer force of 35. "We're happy to see that all the occupants made it out alive. That's the key," Watkinson said. A recovery station has been set up at the Hope Centre on 1st Avenue, where three days of emergency funding will be provided by authorities. The cause of the fire has not been determined. The investigation continues. Breaking News. You can follow breaking news and world news on this channel. Please Subscribe :)