Multiple families have lost their homes after a fire tore through three properties in an East Vancouver neighbourhood Monday night.
Vancouver Fire Rescue Services said crews were called to the 1000 block of East Pender Street around 7:50 p.m., and that 55 firefighters were needed to put out the blaze and keep it from spreading any further.
“We were already encountering very heavy flames, very heavy smoke, rapid fire progression that already occurred throughout the structures, so it really about limiting what was already damaged,” said Capt. Matthew Trudeau.
Naomi Stinton, her husband and two young children are among those who have been displaced.
Stinton said they had just finished eating dinner when she heard what she thought were fireworks coming from the back part of their home – but when she headed back there to take a look, she quickly discovered that wasn’t the case.
“The roof of the …