Thursday, November 12th, 2009
At least five businesses wiped out in early morning fire in central Vancouver
VANCOUVER, B.C. - No one was hurt but a major blaze levelled five businesses in a heritage area of central Vancouver, collapsing several storefronts as onlookers watched.
"The damage will be extensive," said Vancouver assistant fire chief Wade Peirlot.
"We had the whole roof cave in so this building will probably be a total loss by the time we are finished."
Flames broke out just before 4 a.m. Thursday morning at the corner of Main Street and Broadway, the intersection of two main arterial routes through the city.
Firefighters couldn't contain the blaze as it raced through false ceilings above the single-storey strip of restaurants and offices.
Then, about two hours after the first alarm, the front facades of three of the businesses collapsed, sending a searing wave of heat across six lanes of usually commuter-congested Main Street.
Lost in the fire was Slickity Jim's Chat 'N Chew, an eclectic restaurant with a city-wide reputation, along with a sushi restaurant, two more small eateries and an insurance or accounting business.
Two large heritage buildings, the former CIBC bank building and a multi-storey condominium bookended the burning strip but firefighters steered the flames away from those structures.
Fire officials have not yet determined a cause but say the blaze appears to be accidental.
