Vancouver firefighters are responding to a fire at a large church located at the 100 block of East 50th Avenue, where it intersects with Quebec Street. The church is just one block away from the Little India district and Langara College.
The fire reportedly began on the roof while roofers were doing some work. According to Vancouver Fire Rescue, the fire began at approximately 2 p.m. and it grew into a three alarm fire.
Firefighters were originally conducting an attack on the fire in the interior, but they were later forced to go on a defensive aerial operation. All occupants in the building and firefighters have been evacuated.
Residents in the area are advised to close their windows as their is a significant amount of smoke billowing out of the building.
Local bus routes on West 49th Avenue are being detoured as the road in the area is closed.
UPDATE – A #3rdAlarm has been called to help fight the church fire at E 50 & Quebec St in #Vancouver pic.twitter.com/yCS0ZXjST6
— ScanBC (@ScanBC) May 8, 2015
3rd Alarm Fire, 100 Blk E 50th. Lots of smoke in area, residents advised close windows avoid scene pic.twitter.com/tUMquSNO0b
— Vancouver Fire (@VanFireRescue) May 7, 2015
3rd Alarm Fire, 100 Blk E.50th. Defensive operations, multiple aerial streams at work pic.twitter.com/BTpBfnfmDY
— Vancouver Fire (@VanFireRescue) May 7, 2015
3rd Alarm fire, 100 Blk E.50th, Ladder 15 in action pic.twitter.com/nH5uKqL7Lc
— Vancouver Fire (@VanFireRescue) May 7, 2015
3rd alarm fire 100 Blk E, defensive aerial operations pic.twitter.com/Ropu5aHtTy
— Vancouver Fire (@VanFireRescue) May 7, 2015
Update on E 50th Ave church fire – crews making aggressive attack, working on roof ventilation – Ryan Stelting photo pic.twitter.com/w3vtWtt4ul
— Van Fire Fighters (@IAFF18) May 7, 2015
update – #3rdAlarm assigned to church fire on E 50th Photos by Ryan Stelting pic.twitter.com/oT24WNM1rq — Van Fire Fighters (@IAFF18) May 7, 2015
East van church on fire pic.twitter.com/QmKHBhoMxv
— $hazam (@shazo01) May 7, 2015
Hope everyone is staying safe! #Vancouver #church #fire pic.twitter.com/uN7idlaVf7
— Vancouver Lookout (@VanLookout) May 8, 2015
Can see smoke from the church #fire, all the way DT. Hope everyone is safe. #Vancouver
A photo posted by Lauren (@ltothemillsy) on
Seems to be a fire in Vancouver @News1130radio pic.twitter.com/E3B5JxRyIZ
— Dee Sangha (@dee_sangha) May 8, 2015
Check out this angle of the church #Fire in #Vancouver from @GlobalBC heli. @TrishJewison Avoid 105 E.50th. pic.twitter.com/vRg5tmYJB9
— Marsha Gabriel (@mgabrielGlobal) May 8, 2015
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