Homes damaged, crane collapses after fire breaks out in Vancouver’s Dunbar-Southlands: VFRS
Posted August 6, 2024 7:42 pm.
Last Updated August 7, 2024 6:47 am.
A fire, during which a crane collapsed, left several homes with damage in Vancouver’s Dunbar-Southlands neighbourhood Tuesday evening, officials say.
Vancouver Fire Rescue Services Deputy Fire Chief Robert Weeks says crews arrived to the area of West 41st Avenue and Collingwood Street around 6:30 p.m. to find a six-storey, wood-frame building that was under construction fully involved in the fire.
“When we arrived, crews immediately tried to mitigate that fire,” Weeks said.
Shortly after crews arrived, the crane at the site collapsed and took some trolley wires and power lines down with it. Weeks added a gas line rupture also caught fire, though crews were able to get that under control.
Shocking video of the crane falling has been shared online.
Footage shows the crane toppling over onto the street below, and appearing to hit some trees and potentially structures across the way.
Weeks says at least seven houses behind the building were impacted by the fire.
“We were unfortunately unable to save one of those homes,” he said.
The fire chief says a few firefighters have sustained some minor injuries, though he adds he is not aware of anyone else being hurt.
Weeks is commending the actions of firefighters, as well as some good Samaritans who helped during the incident.
“I want to recognize the citizens of this community, one impacted by this fire, and two who assisted our efforts early on,” Weeks said.
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim was also at the scene of the fire.
“It is pretty brutal right now,” the mayor said, adding crews were working hard to get a hold of the situation.
He adds an investigation will be launched once the fire is put out.
The fire sent thick plumes of smoke into the surrounding area. Footage from the area also shows ash falling onto surrounding streets, as bystanders watched crews at work.
The incident prompted multiple phone calls to 1130 NewsRadio Tuesday evening.
“There’s a huge column of smoke way bigger than the bridge fire,” a witness said on the phone, referencing a massive fire that wrecked an inactive rail trestle bridge between Vancouver and Richmond in June.
