A massive fire erupted at the Silverlynn Apartments, a seniors’ housing complex in North Vancouver, on Saturday morning, May 10, 2025, sending two residents to the hospital and prompting a large-scale response from multiple fire departments.
The fire broke out shortly after 9 a.m. at the facility located at 1335 E. 27th Street, and quickly escalated to a second-alarm structure fire, requiring crews from three different fire departments to combat the blaze. As flames shot from multiple second- and third-floor units, thick black smoke could be seen billowing across the region, alarming residents far beyond the immediate area.
Ryan Schaap, a spokesperson for the District of North Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services, confirmed that the building had suffered “significant damage,” although the full extent would not be known until the fire was completely extinguished. Crews were still battling the flames as of noon, and Schaap advised that it would take hours to fully bring the situation under control.
In a Facebook post, District of North Vancouver Mayor Mike Little expressed concern for the residents, stating, “We are waiting on a full assessment on the condition of the residents as many people were dispersed when crews arrived and a full accounting of the people has not been completed yet.” He urged the public to give firefighters plenty of space to work, noting that the fire was still active.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene as the fire raged. A resident named Amber, who was driving over the Lion’s Gate Bridge, reported seeing a massive plume of smoke that made visibility difficult in downtown Vancouver. “The plume of smoke is huge, you can totally see how it’s drifting down,” she said. “It is totally smoky, like hazy down into downtown Vancouver, like you can’t even see the SeaBus terminal anymore.”
Fire Chief Mike Danks reported that firefighters arrived on the scene within ten minutes of the initial call. He noted, “We’ve lost half of this structure that’s been under renovation, that’s unoccupied.” He also confirmed that around ten residents had been evacuated from their balconies, with three occupants treated for smoke inhalation by BC Ambulance. Fortunately, no fatalities have been reported, although the situation remains fluid.
Local resident Sara Lawson, who witnessed the fire while returning from her daughter’s softball game, described the flames as “crazy” and noted that part of the building had collapsed. “The flames were coming out from the top [of the building]. We could see part of the apartment collapsed,” she said, adding that the thick black smoke forced the evacuation of a nearby softball game.
As a precaution, residents of the neighboring Craftman Estates were also evacuated due to smoke from the Silverlynn fire. An emergency reception center was established at the Westlynn Baptist Church to assist those displaced by the fire.
This incident marks the second significant fire at the Silverlynn Apartments in just three years. In June 2022, a blaze at the same complex claimed one life and displaced 70 residents. Concerns regarding fire safety at the building have been raised in the past, with some residents describing it as a “total fire hazard.”
B.C. Housing has acknowledged the complaints about the overall condition of Silverlynn Apartments and stated that it is working to address the deficiencies. However, they do not provide operational funding for the complex, which is managed by Lowland Senior Citizen Housing Society.
Metro Vancouver is actively monitoring air quality as a result of the fire. Officials have urged residents in the surrounding areas to stay indoors and minimize outdoor activities until the situation is resolved.
As firefighters continue to battle the blaze, the community is left grappling with the aftermath of this devastating event. The full impact on residents and the building itself remains to be seen, but local officials are committed to providing support and assistance to those affected.
With the fire still ongoing and assessments being conducted, updates will be provided as more information becomes available. The District of North Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services, along with other emergency responders, are working diligently to ensure the safety of all residents and to bring the situation under control as quickly as possible.
