More than 40 firefighters responded to a large fire that destroyed two buildings in downtown Vancouver Eastside on Wednesday night.
“The crews arrived with a lot of smoke coming out of what appears to be an abandoned building or perhaps under renovation,” Vancouver fire chief Karen Fry said.
“Our teams did a fantastic job of preventing the fire from spreading to the neighboring single-room hotel next door. These people have been evacuated from this building.”
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Vancouver Fire Rescue Services said Vancouver Street Church and the Balmoral Hotel, located on Hastings and Main Streets, were destroyed.
The fire is believed to have started in an alley behind the buildings.
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“We don’t know how it started, but the first clues lead us to believe it started at the back of the buildings,” Fry said.
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Vancouver Street Church was founded in 1993. It offered outreach services to community members.
“I was there watching this happen. I saw flames firing inside the church and different drops of smoke coming out,” Pastor Christina Dawson said. “I couldn’t help but yell and scream. I can’t believe this is happening. I have a nightmare.”
Eighty residents of the Maple Hotel have been relocated to temporary housing.
Authorities said only one person was injured in the blaze. A firefighter was slightly injured and was treated at the scene.
1:06 A three-alarm fire engulfs Value Village on Hastings Street A three-alarm fire engulfs Value Village on Hastings Street – June 30, 2022
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