Vancouver Fire Rescue has confirmed that two bodies have been recovered from the site of this morning’s abandoned building fire on East Hastings Street in Strathcona.
According to fire officials, the victims have not been unidentified and are the first fire victims in the city in 2015. Vancouver Police and the B.C. Coroners Service are investigating the fire and circumstances of their deaths.
2 unidentified bodies found at the Hastings Street and Campbell Avenue fire @VancouverPD Coroner has been called to the scene.
— Vancouver Fire (@VanFireRescue) April 13, 2015
These are the first fire deaths of 2015.
— Vancouver Fire (@VanFireRescue) April 13, 2015
The fire broke out just after 2 a.m. this morning at 955 East Hastings Street, near Glen Drive.
Two people were squatting at the site when the fire broke out, and when firefighters arrived they rescued the individuals who were found hanging on the side of the second storey windows. It is believed that two other people were also squatting at the large site, but they failed to make their escape from the building.
By 6 a.m., the fire was under control, but the site still remained too dangerous for firefighters to enter.
The site is scheduled for demolition – it will be redeveloped into Strathcona Village, a 279-unit mixed-used residential project by the Wall Group.
Traffic and bus route disruptions ended at 9 a.m. when Hastings Street reopened.
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UPDATE: Crews tackle massive fire in East Vancouver http://t.co/8V5TtFoSQb pic.twitter.com/Z0SEUwrvS7 — CTV Vancouver (@CTVVancouver) April 13, 2015
Big fire somewhere around East Hastings just east of Chinatown #vancouver @News1130radio pic.twitter.com/D3m8EwN0px — Dick Low (@EagerBeaverWeb) April 13, 2015
Strathcona Village overlooks Vancouver’s port – in district rezoned for industry AND housing. http://t.co/WQnMhgstg3 pic.twitter.com/YiFrARtFfw — CNMushka (@CNMushka) January 19, 2015