Maple Ridge Fire Department was able to save a resident, and an entire apartment building, thanks to a witness who called in an alarm Friday afternoon.
Chief Howard Exner said someone in the Sorrento Apartment building on 122nd Avenue called 911 "and did so quickly because they were able to smell smoke inside the building.
"That made a world of difference in the outcome of the patient, and the building as well."
Firefighters were on scene within minutes and, at about 4:15 p.m., rescued a man from his third-storey apartment.
"The guys were able to quickly and efficiently do the things that they were able to do," Exner said.
He said the older man was unconscious when firefighters brought him out. But later in the day, his condition had improved.
Three other people were also taken to hospital with breathing difficulties, but were later released.
Exner said the older building, soon to be demolished and replaced by a new apartment building, if council approves, isn't connected to an alarm-monitoring company, so it's up to bystanders or residents to call 911 directly.
The fire was contained to the one suite, although there was some water damage to the unit below. The older building isn't equipped with water sprinklers. However, new buildings must have water sprinklers and, in Maple Ridge, that includes sprinklers on balconies.
The new building code will require all buildings in B.C. to have sprinklers on their balconies.
The Sorrento is next to the Sunrise, which was damaged by fire in March 2015.
Both are to be replaced with new buildings.
The cause of the fire is still being investigated.