Fire in Vancouver sends three people to hospital

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Three people have been taken to hospital after a fire broke out at a Vancouver apartment building Friday morning.

Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services Assistant Chief David Boone said crews were called to the Kitsilano area of West 2nd Avenue and Maple Street around 6:00 a.m.

Second alarm 2000 blk West 2nd #vanworkingfire #secondalarm #vancouver pic.twitter.com/7xjHuf7DLa

— Vancouver Fire Rescue Services (@VanFireRescue) September 20, 2019

“They arrived on scene and there was heavy smoke and flames coming from the second floor, lapping up onto the third,” he explained, adding the fire was quickly upgraded to a second alarm.

Crews were able to knock the fire down and evacuate the building, but there were some injuries.

“There was two people taken to hospital for smoke inhalation, there was one person taken to hospital for some burnt fingers,” Boone said. “Everyone else made it out safely, and no injuries to any fire members.”

There’s extensive damage in at least one of the suites of the apartment building, as well as some smoke and water damage to four other units.

Boone said Friday morning that it was too early to say where exactly the flames may have started, but at first it appeared to have started outside.

“Along the decking area on the second floor,” he says. “The initial thought is it may have started on the outside of the structure, and gotten into one suite. However, it’s too early to determine that with certainty.”

Later on Friday, he said the fire was determined to have been accidental, and to have started inside.

Fire crews are working with Emergency Social Services to help find those displaced somewhere to go. A number of other people have been allowed to return to their units.

-With files from Mike Lloyd