Firefighters were called to the scene around 3:30 a.m. Monday. Four buildings on Powell Street near Princess Avenue were affected by the fire, which is now considered under control. At least two buildings are single-occupancy buildings, or SROs, according to fire officials. Vancouver Fire Chief Karen Fry told CTV News Vancouver that all occupants have been accounted for. One person was taken to hospital for smoke inhalation and a firefighter suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene. The cause of the fire is still unknown. “This here seems to have started on the outside of the building,” Fry said. “Like our main concerns, as you can see, this is valuable housing stock.” He said one building housed 45 people and another housed 17 people. Veteran Jeffrey Allensen is among 59 passengers displaced by the fire. “We just lost everything we have. Everything we have is gone,” he said. “Our house burned down in Squamish three years ago, right? And when you see that, it’s like, what are you doing? What are you doing? There’s nothing you can do,” he continued. Neighbor resident Tasha Seeore said she also feels helpless and with the increasing frequency of fires in the area, she’s worried her home could be next. “It’s really scaring me. It’s too close to home. And now I’m scared for my life, for my building to catch on fire,” she said. Last month, another fire tore through two buildings near East Hastings and Main streets, displacing dozens of people. In April, two people died after a large fire broke out in Gastown. According to BC Housing, 144 residents were displaced and Winters Hotels, which served as an SRO, was later demolished after the fire. Fire crews continue to monitor the affected buildings on Powell Street and the investigation is ongoing. Powell Street is currently closed between Heatley and Jackson avenues.
