Investigators in Vancouver have discovered the cause of a three-alarm condo fire that happened last weekend.
The blaze broke out on the 15th floor of a highrise on the 1200 block of Pacific Street, near English Bay.
Our @VanFireRescue crews have upgraded this High Rise fire to a 3rd alarm. Fire on 15th floor Rapid Intervention Team art up on 13th.
Stay safe!@iaff18 @CTVVancouver @CBCVancouver @BT_Vancouver @GlobalBC @NEWS1130 @CKNW @ACSheldonYoung @DeputyTMoore
Thx @BauerJosh https://t.co/ZLVlUHbmP1
— Fire Chief Darrell Reid (@FireChiefReid) June 3, 2019
Several days later, investigators have determined that the fire was caused by oily rags that weren’t stored properly.
“Linseed oil and derivatives self-heat, which can be accelerated by confining them (balling up rags), leading up to autoignition,” writes Vancouver Fire Rescue.
Anyone with oily rags is advised to store them in metal or soak them in water.
Fire Investigators have determined Sunday’s #thirdalarm 1200 blk Pacific was caused by improperly stored oily rags. Linseed oil & derivatives self-heat, which can be accelerated by confining them (balling up rags) leading to autoignition. Store oily rags in metal or soak w/ water pic.twitter.com/aVOqYnbuIc
— Vancouver Fire (@VanFireRescue) June 4, 2019
Photos and videos shared on social media showed a thick cloud of black smoke pouring out from the building.
Apartment fire #englishbay #vancouver pic.twitter.com/fsPeVnyAMr
— Dr. Jabeen Jussa, (@Drjabeenjussa) June 3, 2019
#fire in a building at Beach Ave #vancouver #firefighters #news pic.twitter.com/OgKBp1mCsX
— Alonso Escalante Lo. (@alonsoescalante) June 3, 2019
Big fire visible in Vancouver Westend, hope every one got out ok pic.twitter.com/SQihQSPEJl
— tea (@PcOfSht_Doodles) June 3, 2019
huge fire on pacific… really scary. #vancouver pic.twitter.com/16EgO952rg
— Steve Jin (@thestevejin) June 3, 2019
Avoid Pacific Ave downtown. Fire in apartment building. #vancouver #emergency pic.twitter.com/isUH86qFAg
— Rhonda Sherwood, CFP (@Rhonda_Sherwood) June 3, 2019
Scary to see this in the building next door. @NEWS1130 #yvr #Vancouver pic.twitter.com/cOBdvIDSV1
— Adam Taylor (@adamtaylorradio) June 3, 2019
Building on fire West End #Vancouver! @CTVNews pic.twitter.com/vijzA1DGGl
— Thainá (@thainaleone) June 3, 2019
Holy downtown Vancouver fire. Hope everyone’s ok. @CBCNews #westendfire pic.twitter.com/K09VNJr0ha
— Scott Smith (@HDalhousie) June 3, 2019