VANCOUVER — Four homes in one of Vancouver's oldest neighbourhoods have been damaged in an early morning fire.
Vancouver Fire and Rescue Capt. Jonathan Gormick says the first calls came in just before 6 a.m., and firefighters arrived in the Strathcona neighbourhood to find four homes involved.
He says a vacant house where the fire started has been gutted and crews found a hoarding situation in a badly damaged home next door, so they haven't been able to confirm if anyone was inside.
The other two homes on the block have damage to their upper floors, but Gormick says no injuries have been reported.
Aprox 45 staff still on scene 3rd alarm 300blk Prior. 4 structures affected, teams in defensive mode. Prior CLOSED between Jackson/Gore, Georgia viaduct inaccessible. #vanworkingfire #vfrs pic.twitter.com/mJ27XhAvmD
— Vancouver Fire (@VanFireRescue) May 31, 2018
Two structures still smouldering with interior hot spots. Extensive debris and now structural damage preventing crews from making entry. Awaiting arrival of heavy machinery to begin tear-down, search for victims & full extinguishment. #vfrs #vanworkingfire @IAFF18 pic.twitter.com/0rsGRoCcUX
— Vancouver Fire (@VanFireRescue) May 31, 2018
The gutted house, which was once an 1880s heritage home, had been partially rebuilt after a fire in 2008, but stood unfinished for years.
Gormick says it's likely that the latest blaze was sparked by squatters.
In 2006, four homes and a food warehouse on the block were torched in separate fires that Vancouver police said were the work of a serial arsonist.
