Early morning fire tears through multiple East Vancouver buildings

A large fire broke out Wednesday morning in East Vancouver, destroying at least three businesses near Hastings and Nanaimo streets.

Vancouver firefighters are battling a blaze in Vancouver’s Grandview-Woodland region that has spread through a number of buildings and displaced several residents.

Crews were called to reports of a fire in the 2200 block of East Hastings Street, shortly before the Nanaimo Street intersection, just after 4 a.m. Wednesday morning, said Capt. Matthew Trudeau of the Vancouver Fire Rescue Services.

In an update shortly after 6 a.m., Trudeau said the fire had spread through several storefronts and “heavy smoke” was erupting from the blaze.

At least two buildings were involved, including one single-storey business and a second, mixed occupancy building with both business and residential floors.

At least seven people have been displaced.

Assistant fire chief Keith Stewart said there are no injuries reported but there are fears that the fire, which has required more than 40 firefighters to tackle, will spread to neighbouring buildings.

“We’re also doing our best because there’s a third building that’s attached to the other one, and we’ve been protecting that building for almost two hours now,” he said.

“We’re doing a good job, but that’s where we’re at.”

Early morning commuters are being advised to prepare for traffic disruptions in the area, with East Hastings Street closed in both directions from Nanaimo Street to Lakewood Drive while crews continue to work to put out the fire.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated.

With files from the Canadian Press.