Gas incident forces closure of downtown Vancouver block: VFRS

FortisBC says a gas appliance was to blame for an incident that forced the closure of a downtown Vancouver block Wednesday morning.

The utility provider tells CityNews an appliance inside of a building along Alexander Street had been left on.

Vancouver Fire Rescue Services shut down Alexander Street between Main and Columbia streets to the public and traffic for a couple of hours, as firefighters ordered the evacuation of an office building and some other buildings in the area.

Fire information officer Capt. Matt Trudeau says crews worked to ventilate the building until they were able to detect fewer particles of gas in the air.

“[Vancouver Fire] is working right now with BC Hydro in force to isolate power and ensure that the gas is shut off and that the readings are starting to drop,” he said just before 10:30 a.m.

Crews said in an update shortly after that they were “finishing operations on scene,” adding, “Occupants in adjacent buildings are returning.”