Crane crashes down during fire on Vancouver's west side
Editor’s note: This piece has been updated as of 9 pm.
Frightening footage from a massive fire on Vancouver’s west side shows a construction crane toppling over as dark smoke rises into the sky.
Daily Hive reader Volante Matheson was travelling past the scene of the fire in the Dunbar-Southlands neighbourhood when she recorded the construction crane keel over onto the ground.
“Oh my god,” Matheson is heard saying in the recording.
Terrifying video of a construction crane crashing to the ground during a fire in Vancouver.
đź“ą: @DailyHiveVan reader Volante Matheson pic.twitter.com/CspZDeI0dz
— Megan Devlin (@MegDevlinn) August 7, 2024
Matheson told Daily Hive she tried calling 911, but couldn’t get through because the lines were busy during the emergency. Once she saw the crane call she left the area fearing for her safety.
Others saw the crane fall during the fire too.
My kid witnessed this massive fire outside his work, just this evening at dinnertime
I hope and pray no one was hurt when the crane fell
How heartbreaking#vancouverfire pic.twitter.com/kET2x96oIn— WendyKa🇨🇦🇨🇿🎗️ (@wendyevaK) August 7, 2024
Dark smoke could be seen growing over the city’s west side just before 7 pm Tuesday, only hours after firefighters battled another fire in Mount Pleasant Tuesday afternoon.
“Fire crews are on site at multiple fires, including Dunbar Street and W. 41st Avenue. Residents are being evacuated as necessary from the area. We can confirm a crane has collapsed. No fatalities reported at this time,” Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services said in a brief statement Tuesday night.
BC EHS told Daily Hive that a primary care paramedic responded at 6:34 pm. However, they did not transport any patients to the hospital.
Daily Hive
One X user wrote online that the fire was located a block east of Dunbar in Vancouver on 39th Avenue.
“Looks like a construction site, with explosions going off in the last few minutes,” the X user wrote.
Massive fire a block east of Dunbar in #Vancouver on 37th Avenue. Looks like a construction site, with explosions going off in the last few minutes pic.twitter.com/zrT5j7JEnd
— Michael Serebriakov (@MichaelSilverV) August 7, 2024
Huge fire at development at West 41st and Collingwood in Vancouver pic.twitter.com/Wo7ARIKUrp
— EleeKG (@eleekg) August 7, 2024
Huge fire in Dunbar Ridge this afternoon. @GlobalBC @chrisgailus @steeletalk @DailyHiveVan pic.twitter.com/ZFg3n3Vh6X
— Anthony (@anthonydz_) August 7, 2024
Daily Hive has contacted the Vancouver Fire Rescue Services for updates on the potential cause of this and the other fires. As of 9 pm, anyone near the area of any active fires are urged to stay inside.
#RiderAlert 2 Macdonald detour. Regular route to Mackenzie St and W 41 Ave, then via W 41 Ave, Larch St, W 33 Ave, Mackenzie St, continue as 2 Burrard Station due to road block. ^at
— TransLink BC (@TransLink) August 7, 2024
There are several impacts to traffic in the area, including ongoing bus route detours as of 8:30 pm Tuesday. Routes, including the 49, 2, and R4, will offer limited service near the fire scene.
#RiderAlert 49 UBC detour. Regular route to SW Marine Dr and Dunbar St, continue SW Marine Dr, resume regular route due to road block. Omit Dunbar Loop. ^at
— TransLink BC (@TransLink) August 7, 2024
BC Hydro is also reporting that more than 700 customers east of Dunbar Street, south of 38 Avenue, and west of MacDonald Street are without power as a result of the crane collapse.
BC Hydro
BC Hydro crews have responded to the area just before 9 pm and are working with first responders on this incident.
Artistic rendering of 3449-3479 West 41st Avenue, Vancouver. (Ciccozzi Architecture/Sightline Properties)
The construction site believed to be the centre of the blaze was slated to be 114 market rental homes, according to Daily Hive Urbanized The 6-storey construction project was submitted for a rezoning application in 2020 as part of an affordable housing initiative.
With files from Claire Fenton and Kenneth Chan