A hotel and a hostel were forced to evacuate in the early hours on Saturday (Sept. 16) due to a destructive three alarm fire.
Vancouver Fire Rescue Services (VFRS) Asst. Chief Pierre Morrin tells V.I.A. that crews were called around 2 a.m. to a vehicle fire in the back alley of 1020 Granville Street. The flames spread onto the adjacent buildings – the Samesun backpacker hostel and Hotel Belmont.
Morrin says the cause of the fire is under investigation and that there was no one in the vehicle at the time.
Only one firefighter was injured.
“The [hostel] will be closed for some time. The business at 1020 that was there is going to be torn down today,” says Morrin.
Granville Street continues to be closed off and evacuees remain gathered outside. As of 10:20 a.m. firefighters are letting small groups of people back inside to collect their belongings.
