File photo of a firetruck. Photo by Jason Payne/PNG

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Firefighters rescued residents from their balconies Friday afternoon as they battled a three-alarm apartment fire in New Westminster.

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The fire broke out at about 1:30 p.m. at Pinecrest Manor in the 900-block of Fourth Avenue, forcing officials to close down the road.

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As of Saturday morning, fire crews were still trying to put out the blaze and residents and commuters were still being asked asked to avoid Fourth between Eighth and Tenth Streets. Dozens of residents remained displaced and the building was left in charred ruins.

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The fire also damaged an adjacent low-rise apartment building.

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Fire destroyed an apartment building on Fourth Avenue in New Westminster Friday afternoon. One resident and two firefighters were sent to hospital with injuries. Photo by Jason Payne/PNG

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New Westminster Fire and Rescue Chief Erin Williams said firefighters were initially called out to a first-alarm fire, but when they arrived the situation quickly escalated to a three-alarm blaze and Burnaby firefighters were called in to assist.

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“On arrival, there were multiple suites fully involved in fire, with residents on balconies needing tactical rescue,” said Williams.

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“So crews switched to rescue mode immediately, and then entered the interior to try and put water onto the fire. But the conditions inside had become so accelerated that they had to pull back and do a defensive attack.”

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Williams said one resident and two New Westminster firefighters were taken to hospital in stable condition.

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Williams said the fire was still actively burning into Friday evening.

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“We are basically putting water on it from all sides to try and protect exposures and to hopefully cool it down.”

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Fire destroyed an apartment building on Fourth Avenue in New Westminster Friday afternoon. One resident and two firefighters were sent to hospital with injuries. Photo by Jason Payne/PNG

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He didn’t know how many residents were rescued from balconies but said they were in multiple units. One resident was injured in the rescue and taken to hospital.

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He said firefighters have done “a phenomenal job under extreme fire conditions.”

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Fire investigators are still trying to determine a cause and will know more once it is safe to enter the building.

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B.C. Emergency Health Services said paramedics received a call at 1:40 p.m. about a structure fire in the 900-block of 4th Avenue in New Westminster.

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Several ambulances with primary care paramedics, an ambulance with advanced care paramedics, and two paramedic supervisors responded.

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Paramedics provided emergency medical care to four patients. Three patients were transported to hospital, while one patient did not require transport.

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Two ambulances and a paramedic supervisor remain at the apartment building, a BCEHS spokesperson said in an email.

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Dozens of residents have been displaced by the fire. Isabella Wang, who lives across the street and said she has a friend in Pinecrest Manor, has started a GoFundMe campaign to help the displaced residents.

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“This is a very difficult and emotional day for many families. It looks like the building is lost,” Wang wrote.

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“Along with it, a sanctuary, a home, cherished belongings, medications and necessities, memories, and lives built for the residents in 50 units.”