Fire intentionally set at smoke shop on Vancouver's Commercial Drive: police

A fire at a business in Vancouver on Monday night was intentionally set, according to police.

Video posted online Wednesday shows the moment an individual, wearing a mask, pours what appears to be gasoline outside the storefront of Vapester Smoke Shop on Commercial Drive near 4th Avenue, before lighting it on fire and running away.

According to Vancouver police, fire crews responded to a blaze at the business around 8:30 p.m. on April 3, and an investigation is underway.

“An initial investigation revealed the fire was intentionally set,” Const. Tania Visintin of the Vancouver Police Department told CTV News Wednesday.

“Oh my God, it was really scary,” said shop employee Mohiuddin Azam.

“It was quite dangerous and it could have literally burned the entire building,” he said.

The frightening incident happened while both staff and customers were in the store.

Surveillance video from inside shows a customer approaching the door. She hesitates for a moment, backs up, and then suddenly a fire erupts.

“She was really scared … literally she was crying,” said Azam, who wasn’t in the store at the time, but spoke with his co-worker and has seen the surveillance video.

With the blaze burning, a staff member jumped into action, grabbing a fire extinguisher and dousing the flames. The surveillance video shows smoke filling the store.

“By the grace of God … No one got harmed during that," Azam said. "No customers or staff members.”

He said the store opened in 2017 and there’s never been a problem before. He has no idea who would do this or why.

“I don’t know what’s the intention of the person (who did this),” he said.

He said staff always treat customers with respect and kindness.

“We don’t have any kind of rivals over here,” he said.

The fire left cracked windows and some burn marks on the door’s interior.

No arrests have been made in the incident.

The police investigation is ongoing. 

Security video outside of Vapester Smoke Shop on Vancouver's Commercial Drive shows the moment police say a person intentionally set a fire outside the storefront. An investigation has been launched. (Reddit)