Vancouver firefighters battled a massive fire in a three-story apartment building overnight Thursday, July 28, that has displaced 70 residents.
Vancouver Fire Rescue Services (VFRS) responded to the 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 battled the blaze through the night, finally knocking it down between 4:30 a.m. and 5 a.m. The roof had partially collapsed, making it dangerous for firefighters to use the hallways. The fire started in a unit on the top floor and firefighters were unable to access it, according to Ass. Chief of Operations Jarret Gray.
"We entered the suite and had to fall back quickly," he told V.I.A. "We pivoted to an outside attack using ladder trucks with monitors spraying water."
There was extensive damage to the entire building from the fire and smoke, as well as water damage from the fire hoses that were used internally and the ladder trucks.
Destructive fire displaces 70 residents in East Vancouver
All 40 units are uninhabitable and a reception centre has been set up at the Mount Pleasant Community Centre for the displaced residents. The City of Vancouver and Park Board staff are "working with partners to provide emergency support services such as clothing, food and accommodation," the city said in an emailed statement to V.I.A.
VFRS has been assisting residents in retrieving their possessions from units that are safe to enter.
Eight cages of rabbits were removed from one apartment in the building Friday afternoon. They spent the entire night in the smokey building and seemed to be okay, according to Gray.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation because it is too dangerous for fire crews to access the top floor.
Gray added that the fire may have smelled particularly bad because of the housing materials used in the building.
The VFRS IAFF Local #18 wrote in a tweet that they are "thinking of everyone in the community and thankful to our members for their bravery and hard work."
NEWS: last night there was a 3-alarm fire at a 40-unit apartment building on 10th ave in Mt Pleasant.
— Van Fire Fighters (@IAFF18) July 28, 2023
Residents were displaced and the fire took some effort and savvy to contain.
Thinking of everyone in the community and thankful to our members for their bravery and hard work. pic.twitter.com/YQ1xtki2Hs
There were 2,199 people without power in buildings in the area, according to BC Hydro. The power had been off since 8:33 p.m. Thursday and residents of some buildings reported that it was still off the following morning.
The outage map shows that power has been restored to all customers in the neighbourhood.
