Smoke shrouds Lions Gate Bridge after fire breaks out under north end

West Vancouver fire crews were called to a large fire burning under the north end of the Lions Gate Bridge Tuesday evening.

The fire was producing a large column of thick black smoke clearly visible from Vancouver, and surrounding the bridge deck itself.

Witnesses reported hearing explosions coming from the site of the fire.

West Vancouver assistant fire chief Jeff Bush said there were seven or eight propane tanks at the site, two of which had detonated before crews got there.

Bush said crews quickly worked to extinguish the fire, but remained on scene to put out hot spots.

“We did keep our required distance from these tanks, but we were able to cool them down to the point where no more did blow up.”

Social media posts pointed to a possible homeless camp on the site. Bush said crews haven’t yet determined the cause of the fire, or the details of the structure that caught fire.

Bush said Tuesday night that no injuries were reported.