Dozens of people have been displaced and at least one person is in the hospital after an early morning explosion led to a three-building fire in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.
Around 4 a.m., Aug. 22, a fire broke out between two buildings on Powell Street near Princess Avenue.
According to Assistant Fire Chief Pierre Morin, there was an explosion outside that blew out windows and sparked the blaze in the first two buildings and eventually spread to a third.
An hour into the fire, Vancouver Fire Rescue Service was able to evacuate everyone inside the buildings. Morin says there are at least 40 people currently displaced. Luckily only one person was sent to hospital with smoke inhalation.
Two of the three buildings have been rendered uninhabitable due to smoke and water damage, he adds.
The cause of the fire is still unknown and Morin says the scene is currently under three feet of water so it will take a couple of days before Vancouver Fire Rescue Services has a clear idea.
Traffic remains blocked off on Powell street between Heatley and Jackson.
