West End high-rise fire leads to building evacuation; no injuries reported

Vancouver firefighters quickly contained a fire at a high-rise apartment in Vancouver's West End Thursday night after a blaze that forced residents out of their homes.

No one was injured, according to officials with Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services. Residents were barred from returning to the building while fire crews worked to determined if it was safe to re-enter and how much damage had been done by smoke and water. 

The fire broke out on the 16th floor of the building in the 1100 block of Beach Avenue. Flames could be seen coming from the balcony of the unit. Reports of the fire came in around 6 p.m. PT. 

"The crews did an amazing job and got water on the fire fairly quickly," said Dan Stroup, assistant chief with Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services.

"They got up there so fast and did stop it spreading to other floors."  

Stroup said the fire damage is contained to that floor, but there could be water damage to other levels of the building. 

Moses Vega was having dinner down the street with his girlfriend when his brother texted him that the building was on fire. He hurried to the scene. 

"When we got here, the flames were already gone but they told us we can't get in there for a few hours," Vega said.

Resident Nitesh Patel also wasn't in the building at the time of the fire, but arrived after. He had been shopping nearby.

He said he's not worried about his unit. "I can see the light in my apartment there, so I'm good," Patel said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.