Fire investigators are trying to piece together what caused a spectacular explosion in an East Vancouver apartment.
Three people were burned, one seriously, after the suite on Dundas Street was completely blown apart late Wednesday afternoon.
All three were found in the alley behind the building, near Nanaimo Street, and rushed to Vancouver General Hospital.
The force of the explosion blew out all the walls of the third floor unit.
Ellie Gamble lives across the street.
"We heard a boom so we came running out to see what it was," Gamble said.
"Lady was standing by the window there and screaming. This doesn't happen everyday. I'm scared."
Priscilla Richard lives above the suite and says the people below her haven't lived in the building long.
"I'm told by my landlord that they were cooking oil or something and he had made a complaint to the strata council like a week and a half ago, two weeks ago and told them that this was going on," Richard said.
"They didn't do anything and this is what freakin happens."
The Vancouver Fire Department said traces of butane were found in the suite.
Captain John McKearney says the fire could have been much worse.
"Considering the damage that's in the back alley at the rear of the structure had there been people milling about here coming home from work we could have had many more seriously injured people."
The building appears to have severe structural damage and 10 suites were affected by smoke or water damage.
At one point, Vancouver fire crews battled a fire on the roof of the building. A hazardous materials team is investigating.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Maria Weisgarber
