Latest News
A Japanese woman carrying a child walks through the ashes and debris of the 1918 Steveston fire (file number 1977 11 2).
Photo courtesy Richmond Archives
Remembering the 1918 Steveston fire
By Samuel Cheng
Published 11:43 PDT, Fri September 2, 2022
—
May 14, 1918, the day of the tragic Steveston fire, was one of the darkest days in Richmond’s history.
In the early days of Steveston, people feared fire as there was no organized fire department in the area. The people had to rely on the nearest fire station, which was located in the Marpole area of Vancouver.
Ten years prior to the heartbreaking accident, there was another fire that ravaged eastern Steveston, also known as the Steveston Chinatown. Sadly, this incident did not result in the establishment of a fire station in Steveston.
It was alleged that the catastrophic fire was started in the Chinese cookhouse of the Star Cannery. The fire quickly spread and annihilated most of the buildings between No. 1 Road and Third Avenue, reaching as far south as Moncton Street.
Ironically, the same cannery was damaged in the first significant fire in 1897, after which major restoration and rebuilding were required.
Three of the buildings destroyed in the 1918 fire were hotels and three were canneries, as well as about 20 other buildings. Adding to the misery, the fire truck that was sent out to extinguish the fire had broken down halfway there, thus delaying the fire rescue.
However, thanks to the assistance of the voluntary bucket brigade, the fire was successfully contained and put out.
There were no records showing the casualties of the accident, although nearly 600 Japanese, Chinese, and Indigenous people were left homeless, making up nearly 12 per cent of Richmond’s population at the time.
The disaster amounted over $500,000 in damage, which is equivalent to 8.7 million dollars today. The incident made the headlines of the Weekly Gazette which read “Fiery Doom of Steveston.”
This incident ultimately led to the establishment of the Brighouse Volunteer Fire Department in 1922. A total of seven fire stations can now be found across Richmond.
2 Hours of free financial consulting
Jai Xin Planning Ltd.
C$120.00 C$0.00
Use any of our home staging service and get a second month rental for free!
MiiX Interiors
C$500.00 C$0.00
Get 10% off any order
Phantom Screens Lower Mainland
C$200.00 C$180.00
