4 Homes were damaged in the big East Vancouver fire, displacing 11 people
Fire Information Officer Captain Matthew Trudeau stated that three homes were heavily damaged, and 11 people have been displaced.
Vancouver Fire Rescue Services crews were called to a massive blaze in East Vancouver Monday night.
Chief Karen Fry reported that a major fire broke out in Vancouver's Strathcona neighborhood on East Pender Street at Glen Drive, engulfing multiple houses.
The fire started just before 8 p.m., and firefighters arrived to find "heavy smoke and flames." The intensity of the blaze quickly prompted an upgrade to a working fire, as crews worked to prevent the fire from spreading to neighboring homes, which are close together in the area.
These houses were multi-resident homes, leading to significant displacement.
Fry noted that emergency services would assist those affected in finding temporary shelter. Thankfully, all residents were able to evacuate safely, and there were no reported injuries among either the occupants or the firefighters.
The fire response involved 11 fire trucks and about 55 firefighters.
Flames reportedly shot as high as 100 feet into the air, with smoke detectable in nearby neighborhoods. Nearby trees also caught fire, further complicating the situation. One of the challenges crews faced was the collapse of a deck in one of the homes, which broke a gas meter, causing it to emit gas and ignite for about an hour before being brought under control.
Fire Information Officer Captain Matthew Trudeau stated that three homes were heavily damaged, and 11 people have been displaced.
Fry emphasized how different the outcome could have been if the fire had occurred while residents were asleep, stressing the importance of working smoke alarms. She urged everyone to check their alarms regularly, especially during Fire Prevention Week.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
