Langley, B.C., restaurant destroyed in fire, business leader says

A restaurant in Langley, B.C., has likely been destroyed by a fire in the city's downtown core on Saturday, according to a local business leader.

Teri James, the executive director of the Downtown Langley Business Association, told CBC News she first started receiving messages about theblaze just after 7:30 a.m. PT.

The fire was reported at the Viva Mexico restaurant at 20559 Fraser Highway, in the city's McBurney Plaza area. James said nearby businesses had to be evacuated, but that a firefighterinformed her they were able to save the building beside the restaurant.

"There'll be some smoke damage and water damage, of course, but it didn't burn because there was substantial firewall between the two buildings," James said.

Fire crews were still battling the blaze as of shortly before 10 a.m., according to a post to X by the Township of Langley.

James said she was not aware of any injuries due to the blaze, whichsent smoke billowing through the city's downtown core.

"There's a lot of clothing and footwear and giftware stores," she said. "And, of course, everyone's worried about smoke damage as well because the billowing smoke was quite heavy and dark and like [a] burning tar kind of thing."

The business leader said she was told the area might be closed off for another day while firefighters continueto fight the blaze, and encouraged locals to support small businesses any way they can until then.

"This is definitely a blow, but this is an amazing small business community and everybody rallies together and helps one another," she said.

"We will survive. It's just going to be different."

CBC News has reached out to Langley Fire Rescue for this story. An RCMP spokesperson confirmed a fire had been reported in the downtown core, but deferred comment to the fire service.