Granville Street fire causes 'extensive damage' to Samesun Hostel in Vancouver
Guests of two hotels on Vancouver's Granville Street woke up early Saturday morning to orange flames glowing out their windows and the smell of smoke engulfing their hotel rooms.
More than 100 people from the Samesun Hostel and the Belmont Hotel rushed out of their suites around 2 a.m. as sprinklers and alarms went off.
“It was like an inferno,” said Gustavo, who is visiting from Brazil to attend a seminar at the University of British Columbia. He did not give his last name.
“It’s completely destroyed, flooding and lot of the ceiling is falling.”
He was staying on the second floor when he heard someone banging on his door to wake up.
Vancouver Fire Rescue Services Assistant Chief Pierre Morin says a vehicle in the back alley went up in flames and eventually caught the Samesun Hostel on fire.
"There was extensive fire in the building and the vehicle," he said. “It was pretty hectic.”
He says fire damage is most extensive on one side of the building, but smoke and water damage are significant throughout.
The Belmont Hotel did not suffer any damage.
One firefighter was taken to hospital after part of the ceiling collapsed on him, but he has since been treated and released.
Two people were also taken to hospital for smoke inhalation.
Forty-eight firefighters were called to help put out the blaze, and some were still on scene late Saturday morning putting out hot spots.
The fire caused chaos on Granville Street Saturday, as crowds of guests looking to return to their suites to get their items lined the street.
“Most of the people were sleeping when the fire began and we went out real quick, but a lot of people didn’t manage to bring out their belongings like their passports, their flight tickets, all left inside of their rooms,” said Gustavo.
CTV News spoke with many upset guests who missed flights or had to leave imminently.
By 10 a.m., crews allowed guests to return inside the hostel in small groups to retrieve their items.
Guests were seen exiting the building wet from the sprinklers, carrying luggage that was completely soaked.
Morin said firefighters eventually had to stop letting people back inside for safety concerns as the neighbouring building had a “flare up.”
He confirmed all sprinkler and alarm systems were in working order in all buildings.
He said the vehicle is a complete write-off and investigators will work to determine if foul play was involved.
Crews are expected to be on scene into the evening. The area is also expected to be blocked off throughout the day.
Guests of two hotels on Vancouver's Granville Street woke up early Saturday morning to orange flames glowing out their windows and the smell of smoke engulfing their hotel rooms. (CTV)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
Blind Sask. boy heading to international braille competition hopes to increase accessibility for visually impaired
A Saskatchewan boy who qualified for an international braille competition in Los Angeles next month hopes he can inspire change in his home province.
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Steve Albini, legendary producer for Nirvana, the Pixies and an alternative rock pioneer, dies at 61
Steve Albini, an alternative rock pioneer and legendary producer who shaped the musical landscape through his work with Nirvana, the Pixies, PJ Harvey and more, has died. He was 61.