A historic Vancouver restaurant has been heavily damaged by fire.
Vancouver Fire responded to a report of heavy smoke showing from the Pink Pearl Seafood Restaurant in the 1100-block of East Hastings Street around 4 a.m.
Battalion Chief Martin Laurie says the construction of the building made it a tough fire to fight.
"Crews made entry into the building and attacked the fire, knocked 'er down originally but they've encountered three false ceilings in the building that's made extinguishment very difficult," he said.
It appears the fire was started in the kitchen area and spread to the roof.
Fire flared up in the building again around 9 a.m. Wednesday, with thick smoke visible from the road.
The Pink Pearl opened as a 100-seat restaurant in 1981, expanding to more than 700 by 1989.
It was voted 'Best Chinese Restaurant' by Vancouver Magazine for four years straight during the 1990's.
