VANCOUVER – Residents of downtown Vancouver’s crippled Electra building let out a quiet cheer Thursday afternoon as a strata official ripped down yellow tape wrapped around the building’s entrance and allowed them back into their homes.
The tape was removed at 4:15 p.m. after several delays throughout the afternoon.
Matthew Lucas stood waiting outside in the misting rain for about 30 minutes. Despite having a large suitcase at his side, he was no more prepared for Saturday’s evacuation than other residents who were forced to leave so abruptly.
“This is actually full of a wedding dress and my suit,” Lucas said with a laugh. “You’d be surprised how you can’t actually wear that.”
Lucas and his wife learned about the fire and subsequent evacuation Sunday, on a ferry ride back from Victoria, where they held their wedding reception. He said the first thing he was going to do upon returning home was open the windows and air the suite out.
Frank Mackay returned home from work Saturday to find the building cordoned off. With just his wallet, keys and phone, he decided to stay with his parents. Mackay said he was most concerned about the building’s smell, which was still noticeable from the street on Thursday.
“I’m guessing the apartment’s going to stink a little bit,” he said. “The hallways and the lobby were quite pungent [Friday and Saturday]. If it’s decent [when I get in], I’m going to open up as many windows as I can, and if it stinks, I’m going to clean it and leave for the night.”
Mehdi Alaei Tafti, who owns a suite in the building, said he was concerned by the strata council’s handling of the incident, including its endorsement of contractor True North Concrete Lifting, which had neither a valid business license nor a permit for the work it was doing. Whether True North needed a permit is still under investigation.
Residents of the 21-storey building were told at a meeting with city officials Wednesday night they would be allowed to return to the building Thursday.
Deputy fire chief Nick Delmonico said the underground fire, triggered by heat generated from 700 litres of expanding foam, was about as hazardous as a regular house fire. Medical health officer Dr. Reka Gustafson advised residents to employ basic cleaning techniques such as washing sheets, wiping down surfaces and airing out suites upon moving back in. The commercial retail units on the lower main level and in the basement will remain closed pending remediation.
awoo@vancouversun.com
Comments