Fire crews in Port Coquitlam were mopping up Monday after an early morning fire.
Several businesses were destroyed after flames broke out in one building near the corner of Shaughnessy Street and McAllister Avenue around 4:20 a.m.
It is believed the fire started in Martha’s Bakery and Cafe, which then spread to the Heart and Stroke Foundation and a wellness centre, which has only been open for a few months. It is not known if other businesses in the same area will have to be demolished due to extensive damage. The fire damaged seven businesses in total.
No injuries have been reported as a result of the blaze.
When crews first arrived on scene, they could hear the gas coming from the kitchen area of the bakery, which fuelled the flames. They then jumped up to a beam along the roof, which spread the fire to the neighbouring buildings.
Firefighters built a trench along the edge of the sushi restaurant, which helped stop the fire from spreading. Power lines in front of the businesses also hindered firefighting efforts.
“It was right through the roof on arrival,” said fire chief Nick Delmonico. “So it seemed to be fuelled by gas, it was running off some sort of a gas. We did shut the gas off to the building but by that time it looked like it had spread into the laminated beam supporting the whole block.”
WATCH BELOW: A massive fire swept through a Port Coquitlam strip mall Monday morning, destroying a number of businesses. Grace Ke reports.
It is not yet known how the fire started but it is believed it started in the rear of the building.
Martha’s Bakery has been in the area for about 40 years and has been family-owned for about 16 years. It was also listed for sale.
People are still being asked to avoid the area.
McAllister Avenue is closed from Mary Hill Road to Shaughnessy Street and Mary Hill is closed from Wilson Avenue to Kingsway Avenue.
The power to the area is still shut off.
This fire is close to the site of another fire that broke out last year, which started in the lower level of a barber shop in the 2600-block of Shaughnessy Street. The fire started in an electric towel warmer in the barber shop and spread up through the ceiling to the rest of the building.
BELOW: Grace Ke live from the scene.
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