Two hurt in downtown Vancouver explosion
Posted February 24, 2023 6:55 pm.
Last Updated February 25, 2023 2:53 pm.
Vancouver Fire Rescue Services says it was called for an explosion at Vancouver’s Marine Building Friday at around 6:30 p.m.
Fire crews say there was fire showing out of a vault on a sidewalk.
Firefighters on-scene and the intersection of W. Hastings St and Burrard St are closed — more on this @CityNewsVAN tonight at 11#VanFire pic.twitter.com/it129OnA2U
— Sarah Chew (@sarahsinthenews) February 25, 2023
According to acting assistant fire chief Dan Nichols, two people were injured with facial burns and lacerations.
“We’ve got blown-out windows in the JJ Bean business,” Nichols said.
Huge explosion outside the Marine Building on Burrard. #Vancouver #explosion pic.twitter.com/z8QVWV7iNt
— Scott Lockyer (@slockyer_) February 25, 2023
A restaurant manager at the Marine Building told CityNews they were given half an hour to evacuate.
“There was a pop and obviously we knew something was wrong. The lights in our building was shaking a little bit and we found out there was smoke coming through the back,” the manager said.
The electric vault blast at Hastings and Burrard Streets broke through concrete — taking 45 firefighters to get the blaze under control — and the fire chief says two people were injured with face lacerations and burns. @CityNewsVAN pic.twitter.com/MLuwKSMLJE
— Sarah Chew (@sarahsinthenews) February 25, 2023
Nichols says most of the building wasn’t occupied as most of the office workers had gone home.
Live fire and emergency situation at historic Marine Building in @downtownvan. Please stay clear of the area and let @VanFireRescue with support from @VancouverPD do their work. pic.twitter.com/ScNtqT8LE9
— Sarah Kirby-Yung 楊瑞蘭 (@sarahkirby_yung) February 25, 2023
Nichols says the fire is still under investigation but believes the cause could be an electrical vault. The Vancouver Police Department says it’s helping Vancouver Fire Rescue Services investigate the cause.
TransLink says Waterfront station was closed earlier at the request of police due to the fire incident. The transit provider says the station is now open with Canada Line, Expo Line, and SeaBus having resumed regular service.
with files from Kurtis Doering
