Fire consumes building in South Granville
Posted October 3, 2014 8:30 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – A massive fire has consumed the top part of a building at 49th Avenue and Granville Street in Vancouver.
Smoke from the assisted-living facility for seniors called Granville Gardens, which was set to open in November, could be seen throughout the Lower Mainland.
At its worst point, the flames were shooting up to 50 feet in the air, and drew firefighters from four different fire halls.
The spectacle attracted neighbours and people who were passing through.
“This is completely shocking. This is very distressing to see, because it was supposed to be a seniors’s centre,” said one woman.
“It started in the middle, where the elevator shaft is. When I got here it was smoking. I could see flames. Eventually the flames spread to both sides,” said another bystander.
“The questions I have is what kind of fire separation did they have in the attic, and were the sprinkler systems turned on? It’s very sad because of the amount of water damage,” said a third onlooker.
The fire was centred along the top floor and roof, but no word on what may have started it.
Luckily, no one was inside as the fire quickly spread. While the building is still standing, the roof has been destroyed and water damage would be extensive.
“The construction company will have to take a look at how much damage there is. There is significant damage especially on the top floor, and a significant amount of water damage, as well,” says Vancouver Fire Assistant Chief Ron Coulson.
