A fire that destroyed the 91原创 City building housing the Viva Mexico restaurant on Saturday, Oct.5, was "probably accidental" but the source and starting point are yet to be determined, City fire chief Scott Kennedy said Monday.
"We did find a well-seated fire on the first floor, in the area of the restaurant," Kennedy told the 91原创 Advance Times.
"But is that the area of origin? I can't say that for sure. We still have a lot of investigation work to do."
City investigators are looking for "any surveillance video area that might give us an idea of where smoke was originally seen."
91原创 City firefighters blocked off the one-way by McBurney plaza Saturday morning while they fought a fire in the building that houses the Viva Mexico restaurant
鈥� 91原创 Advance Times (@91原创Times)
Thick clouds of potentially hazardous smoke were sent billowing over the downtown core while fire crews from the City and Township battled the early morning fire that gutted the aging two-storey wood-frame structure where the restaurant and several other businesses, including a physiotherapy clinic, dog trainer, Stepping Stones satellite office, a vehicle financing company, and photography studio, were based.
Because it was an older building, there was concern about the likelihood of asbestos or other contamination in the smoke, so residents in the immediate area were advised by the fire department to stay indoors or wear masks.
"If you were anywhere around that, you should have been wearing an an N95 mask," Kennedy remarked.
Initial reports of a fire at the building at 20559 Fraser Hwy. came in around 6:15 a.m. as a possible mattress fire on the exterior, or a roof fire.
"When we got into the building, it was difficult to find a source for the fire," Kennedy described.
"From the outside, there was smoke leaking from various locations, and initial reports that some smoke was coming from the roof."
Shortly after 7 a.m. Township fire crews joined the fight.
In all, 10 firefighting vehicles and 40 firefighters from both the City and the township responded.
As the fire spread, crews puled out and it became a "defensive" fire fight, aiming to keep the blaze from spreading to neighbouring buildings, Kennedy said.
"It's an old part of town. Those buildings are pretty close together." Kennedy commented.
He praised crews for containing the blaze, calling it "a very important success for the size of the fire."
"It's unfortunate for the [Viva Mexico] building to burn, but [the firefighters] were able to save the buildings on both sides, and and we're talking about people all on both sides. [It's] a credit to the crews for the for the hard work they did."
While second-floor residential suites in the building on the east side were evacuated and provided with accommodations through the provincial disaster assistance program, those people were allowed to return on Sunday, Kennedy said.
There was some smoke and water damage, but the units were habitable, Kennedy said.
There was only one injury, a firefighter who suffered a back strain.
"In our world, that's a win."
After fire fighters wrapped up Saturday afternoon, a gas leak was discovered late in the evening that required a Fortis B.C. crew.
As well, B.C. Hydro returned to restore power that was turned off as a precaution during the fire.
