Skip to content
Join our Newsletter
  1. Home
  2. Local News

Video: Local man captures plumes of smoke furling from Vancouver building

"Holy sh*t there was an explosion in the building across from my house!"
Elana Shepert
Elana Shepert
explosion-fire-vancouver-may-2022
Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services responded to a fire in the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood on May 2, 2022. Firefighters got a call from the smoke alarm. Photo via @MrBrianCC / Twitter

Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services (VFRS) responded to a blaze in the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood late Monday (May 2) night that sparked concern over a possible explosion. 

Firefighters responded to a call that was activated by a smoke alarm at 575 East 5th Ave for a fire on a second-floor balcony that had extended up to a third-floor balcony.

VFRS Asst. Chief Richard Warnock told Vancouver Is Awesome in a phone interview that smoke got into suite 207 through an open window but the blaze did not make it inside the unit. However, the tenant required accommodation due to smoke damage. 

Firefighters arrived at 10:42 p.m. and quickly brought the first alarm fire under control. Eight vehicles and 21 personnel were dispatched to the scene.

The fire investigators have determined that "smoking materials" on the deck were the likely cause of the blaze, explained Warnock. "The tenant had said they had been smoking earlier."

A Mount Pleasant resident shared a video on Twitter that he filmed of plumes of smoke furling from the building. But the local man seemed to think the cause of the blaze was an explosion, captioning: "Holy [expletive] there was an explosion in the building across from my house!"

How to prepare for a fire

  • Make sure your smoke alarms are properly placed and functioning and test them twice a year.
  • Plan ahead with your family: create a fire escape plan, identify a common meeting area, and practice your plan so that everyone knows what to do.
  • Consider installing a spark arrestor on your chimney, and keep your chimney, roof surfaces, and gutters clean.
  • Install flexible piping on gas appliances where possible to avoid gas leaks that could cause fires.
  • Know how to turn off the gas supply to your house.
  • Discard worn-out electrical cords and plugs.
  • Have wiring inspected if you live in an older house or apartment to prevent electrical fires.

Find out more about fire safety with Vancouver Fire and Rescue.