Gas line catches fire, forces evacuation of West End building
Posted May 20, 2024 12:55 pm.
Last Updated May 20, 2024 3:33 pm.
Three dozen Vancouver firefighters were called to the West End Monday morning after a gas line caught fire.
Vancouver Fire Rescue Services (VFRS) tells CityNews crews responded to an apartment building along Ted Northe Lane, between Chilco and Gilford streets, just after 7:30 a.m.
Pierre Morin, assistant Chief at VFRS, says they contained the fire around the gas line and eventually shut the gas off.
“Damage was contained to one or two suites, mostly the exterior of the building,” he said.
He says about 20 people evacuated from the building because of the flames and two people were displaced.
No injuries were reported.
Morin says it is not common for gas lines to erupt.
“They are usually pretty safe, but they were doing some construction on the building,” he said. “So there’s some exposed gas lines at the rear of the building there.”
It’s unclear what caused the gas line to erupt in flames. Images of the building during the fire show scaffolding on the side of the structure.
Morin says the ignition source is still under investigation.
-With files from Greg Bowman and Raynaldo Suarez.
