A blaze erupted at a home in the 7000-block of 184 Street.
Flames ripped through a piece of Surrey’s history Wednesday afternoon (Aug. 20), leaving behind nothing but charred memories and smoke-stained walls.
Around 3 p.m., Surrey Fire crews rushed to the 7000-block of 184 Street in Clayton Heights, where a blaze had broken out in a home that once pulsed with community life. This wasn’t just any house — it was the former Surrey Little Theatre, a beloved venue that once staged decades of productions, and before that, the Clayton United Church, dating back to 1936.
When firefighters arrived, they were met with a wall of flames and heavy smoke consuming the building’s front, as well as a car that had already caught fire. Bystanders described a terrifying scene of explosions echoing through the neighbourhood just moments before the fire spread into the structure.
Crews battled furiously, attacking the blaze both inside and out. Their efforts stopped the inferno from eating into the attic and roof — but despite their heroics, the building suffered catastrophic damage.
The fire broke out just steps from the future Hillcrest–184 Street SkyTrain station, a detail that has sparked speculation among locals already concerned about development pressures in the area.
For longtime residents and theatre lovers, the loss is especially heartbreaking. The 76-seat Surrey Little Theatre had been a cultural gem since the 1960s, but changing times and the pandemic forced its operators to merge with Langley Players in 2021, creating today’s Langley Little Theatre. Proceeds from selling the 184 Street property were poured into renovating the 80-seat Langley Playhouse — a bittersweet shift that now feels like fate.
What once rang with sermons, laughter, and applause is now just smoke and ashes — a poignant reminder of how Surrey’s past is being consumed in the flames of its future.
