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Greenhill Park, 1945

Photo Coltman, Don Steffens Colmer. City of Vancouver Archives, CVA 586-3567. 1945 Greenhill Park A large explosion rocked Vancouver on March 6, 1945, when a freighter in the harbour, the Greenhill Park , blew out its third hold.

 Photo Coltman, Don Steffens Colmer. City of Vancouver Archives, CVA 586-3567.Photo Coltman, Don Steffens Colmer. City of Vancouver Archives, CVA 586-3567.

1945

Greenhill Park

A large explosion rocked Vancouver on March 6, 1945, when a freighter in the harbour, the Greenhill Park, blew out its third hold. It had been packed in part with the chemical sodium chlorate (used in bleaching, explosives and fertilizer), whiskey and signal flares. Whiskey fumes were ignited by sailors trying to see in the dark while siphoning the deadly drink. Dramatic fireworks ensued from the flares, downtown windows shattered, and pickles—another cargo item—rained down. Eight men were killed, and many more wounded.

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