4-alarm fire breaks out in downtown Vancouver apartment building
Thurlow Street blaze was also the scene of a dramatic dog rescue
A large four-alarm fire broke out in an apartment building in the 900 block of Thurlow Street in Vancouver's West End on Thursday morning.
Crews at the third alarm 900blk Thurlow are extinguishing remaining fire that has extended through wall and ceiling voids. Several suits have been left uninhabitable & Emergency Social Services is on scene. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/vanworkingfire?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#vanworkingfire</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/vfrs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#vfrs</a> Thurlow & Nelson remain closed. <a href="https://t.co/vStT8i1hPl">pic.twitter.com/vStT8i1hPl</a>
—@VanFireRescueAccording to Vancouver Fire and Rescue's Jonathan Gormick, crews were called just after 9 a.m. PT to the fire on the fourth floor of the building.
A tweet later sent out by Vancouver Fire and Rescue said one firefighter ended up receiving medical assistance for an injury sustained at the fire.
No other injuries were reported but one dog was rescued from the building.
Bystander Kristian Evans was supposed to be working in the building when he noticed smoke pouring out of a window.
He and two other men ran inside to the unit and tried to kick down the locked door. That's when Evans heard a dog whimpering.
"The manager showed up with the keys," said Evans. "I got down on my hands and knees and felt around on the floor until I found his paw and dragged him out."
Evans said the dog, named Omi, was reunited with his owner and seemed to be doing fine.
"I just went into panic mode when I heard the whimpers," he said. "I have two dogs myself."