One of the worst fires in Richmond’s history ripped through Steveston village more than a century ago.
The big blaze of 1918 happened on May 14, at a time when Steveston was a booming industrial village and many wood framed salmon canneries, along with wooden housing for workers, were built in high density plots.
The fire is alleged to have started in the Chinese cookhouse in the Star Cannery and quickly spread, due to strong winds.
The inferno destroyed most of the buildings between No. 1 Road and Third Avenue and many buildings south of Moncton Street.
The blaze engulfed three canneries and three hotels, and about 600 Japanese, Chinese and First Nations workers and their families were made homeless in the blink of an eye. The total damage amounted to $500,000.
