A fire in Kerrisdale has left three people homeless, four businesses destroyed and one with heavy fire damage.
It appears the fire started in the back of one of the businesses along West 41st Avenue around 10 p.m. Sunday.
It quickly spread to a number of neighbouring businesses, including Nando’s, Deer Island Bakery, Yummy Yoghurt, Sandy’s Market and Pho Tan Vietnamese Restaurant.
Keith Stewart, the Asst. Fire Chief with Vancouver Fire and Rescue said more than 50 firefighters were brought in to battle the fire.
Two firefighters suffered injuries while battling the blaze, Stewart said. One suffered a possible broken hand and the other was treated for muscle strain.
There were a number of apartments above the businesses and everyone was able to get out safely.
Jeroen Bos lives in the building and told Global News he was able to alert the neighbours, grab what he could, including pets, and flee to safety.
“We’ve been here all night as these four businesses burned down,” Bos said. “The entire building is gone, the upper floor has caved into the building below, a total loss, but they did manage to save our building.”
Matthew Nguyen, whose parents own Pho Tan Vietnamese Restaurant said they’ve been in business there for 15 years.
“We have substantial water damage inside and we don’t know what else we can salvage,” he said.
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Right now, Nguyen said his parents are on vacation and have heard about the fire.
His sister, Christina, is hopeful the restaurant can be saved as it’s damaged, but not destroyed.
“It’s our parent’s restaurant,” she said. “They always wanted to open up their own so they got us working there and so we’ve just been running it as a family together.
“This neighbourhood is amazing.”
The owner of Nando’s told Global News on the scene that he has owned the business for 18 years.
West 41st Avenue between East Boulevard and Maple Street remains blocked off and everyone is asked to avoid the area.
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