Two people suffered injuries in an electrical explosion at the Marine building in downtown Vancouver Friday evening, according to firefighters.
A loud boom and a massive fireball were witnessed on Burrard St. between West Hastings and West Cordova streets. City firefighters and police officers responded to the scene, evacuating nearby buildings and businesses.
According to Dan Nichols, assistant fire chief with Vancouver Fire Rescue Services, 45 firefighters were called to the site of the explosion. He said, “When crews got on the scene, they were met with a fireball. It moved a pretty big piece of concrete, so it was a forceful blast.
2 people got injured following an electrical explosion and vault fire in downtown Vancouver
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Nicolas stated that the fire crew took care of the two people with facial lacerations and burns, but he wasn’t sure about the severity of their injuries. However, B.C. Emergency Health Services later confirmed that both patients were in stable condition.
Nicholas suspects the fire was triggered in an electrical vault, though the cause is still under investigation. He said the fire crew quickly entered the building but found it mostly empty except for a few cleaning staff.
Nicholas reported that fire and smoke caused due to explosion damaged two buildings, mainly affecting a JJ Bean coffee shop inside the Marine Building.
Crown utility, in an emailed statement, said that it was working with the first responders to foremost secure the area before investigating in the cause of the fire and necessary repairs. According to a spokesperson, seven customers in the vicinity were without power.
The Vancouver Police Department tweeted that they were supporting firefighters in investigating the explosion and stated that it was not suspected to be a criminal act.