The Vancouver Fire Rescue Services (VFRS) says crews responded to an explosion at a house in Kitsilano Monday evening.
The incident occurred shortly before 4 p.m. at a home near the intersection of MacDonald Street and West 6th Avenue.
Firefighters say the explosion came from the house’s basement, confirming it was an electrical fire.
“We got called out for a building collapse, which turned out to be an explosion and fire in the basement,” said Assistant Chief Pierre Morin.
Once crews turned off utilities and an engineer deemed the building safe, they entered and extinguished the fire.
However, Vancouver’s chief building inspector later said that it was not safe for people to return to the building.
“Two of the tenants from two of the separate units received assistance for accommodation through emergency social services,” fire chief Karen Fry said.
No injuries have been reported, but six residents of the building were displaced as a result of the incident.
“Four found housing on their own, two are in social housing,” he explained.
Morin says 36 firefighters were on scene, and the cause of the fire is now under investigation.
“It’s accidental in nature, but undetermined.”
MacDonald Street and West 6th Avenue were closed for several hours, but have since reopened.
