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Over a dozen people in hospital after Port Metro Vancouver fire

DH Vancouver Staff
DH Vancouver Staff
|
Dec 19 2017, 10:15 pm
Over a dozen people in hospital after Port Metro Vancouver fire

At least 13 people have received treatment in hospital for symptoms associated with inhaling chemicals from the thick, white smoke created by Wednesday’s container fire at Port Metro Vancouver.

The patients were mainly treated for their respiratory symptoms, but none of them spent the night in hospital.

The Vancouver Coastal Health Authority continues to warn the public, particularly young children and those with health issues, of possible symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, and skin and eye irritation.

While the fire is now contained, the public is warned that symptoms could take 24 hours to appear.

Individuals experiencing symptoms such as coughing and wheezing should see a physician at a walk-in-clinic, family practice or hospital emergency room.

The air quality for the most affected areas, the Downtown Eastside and Hastings-Sunrise neighbourhoods, are now at safe levels. The shelter-in warning was lifted yesterday evening just after 6 p.m. and by Thursday morning most of the chemicals in the air had dissipated.

Meanwhile, City officials say they are satisfied with the response of fire rescuers and police. Port traffic operations on the south shore of Burrard Inlet recommenced this morning, but the Centerm Container Terminal remains closed for safety reasons.

Nearly three dozen firefighters are still at the Centerm Container Terminal monitoring the site for potential health impacts.

Firefighters are still utilizing full protective hazmat equipment to access the vicinity, but they are unable to determine the cause of the fire at this time as it is not safe to open up the trichloroisocyanuric acid container for investigation.

There is a one hundred metre radius exclusion area around the location of the burned container.

 

 

 

 

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