A massive blaze in a large Vancouver apartment building has left thousands of people without power and blocked traffic in the area.
Vancouver Fire Rescue Services (VFRS) responded to a third-alarm structure fire in the 400 block of East 10th Avenue near Guelph Street just after 8:20 p.m. on Thursday, July 27.
Fire crews continue to battle the blaze and traffic has been closed off to the area. While the fire is currently contained to two suites on the top floor of the three-story building, the roof has partially collapsed, making it dangerous for firefighters to use the hallways, according to Deputy Chief of Operations Trevor Connelly.
"We have to be slow and safe," he told V.I.A.
Firefighters rescued three civilians and one dog. One firefighter suffered smoke inhalation but no other injuries have been reported.
Fire crews shut the power down in the area due to safety concerns with the electrical wiring and it will remain off for several hours.
There are in the area, according to BC Hydro. Crews are currently on site and the power has been off since 8:33 p.m.
The 80 people who live in the building will be displaced for an indeterminate period of time.
Connelly advises people in the area to "shut your windows and not breathe in smoke."
Out for my evening walk and there is a big fire in . Huge thank you to the brave men and women of out battling the blaze and saving lives.
— Ezra S. Shanken (@eshanken)
Huge fire raging in
— Spic&Span1745 (@cleanrag)
1st pic = tonight’s fire
— Loquacité (@Loquacite)
2nd pic = fire 2 nights aho
Vancouver Fire
Right across from my building. Thick smoke and fire still burning hot 9:50pm
— Brian (@bhost7)
Fire in our Mount Pleasant neighbourhood that knocked out the electricity.
— jarvsky (@jarvsky)
Serious fire in East Vancouver tonight, just a few blocks east of Broadway and Kingsway. We’ve lost power in our building now noticing a few others have too.
— TheresaGray (@MissTGray2019)
Power went out and it turns out there's a huge fire just down the road
— Robin Wilde (@TheWildeRobin)
Fire near Kingsgate mall
— Naoko Nishimura / 銇仐銇亰 (@nnnnnishimura)
Have a look at the to find out what areas are currently in the dark.
