5 rescued, some unaccounted for as fire tears through downtown Vancouver building
CTV
Some remain unaccounted for as a fire tears through a mixed-use building in downtown Vancouver, sending at least five to hospital.
Some remain unaccounted for as a fire tears through a mixed-use building in downtown Vancouver, sending at least five to hospital.
Fire Chief Karen Fry said crews were able to rescue five occupants of the heritage building in the city's Gastown neighbourhood, but that "upwards of a handful" are still unaccounted for.
She said these people may have escaped and left the scene before their whereabouts were noted, or they may not have been home at the time of the fire. It is not yet known whether anyone was killed in the fire.
The fire broke out at the building shortly before 11 a.m., and crews remained at the building fighting flames and dealing with a roof collapse several hours later.
The building on Abbott Street has businesses on the ground floor and low-income residences on the upper levels, and it appears the fire started on one of the residential floors.
A witness told CTV News she saw people jumping to safety from the building in the historic neighbourhood popular with tourists and locals for its bars, restaurants and shops.
No firefighters were injured, Fry said, but B.C. Emergency Health Services told CTV News that two people were taken to hospital in serious condition, and three others considered "stable" were also transported.
