Fire erupts next to Pink Pearl restaurant in east Vancouver
The blaze in the 1100-block of East Hastings at Vernon Avenue — on the outskirts of Chinatown and the Downtown Eastside — is across a parking lot from the popular dining institution.
Gord Sidhu, an assistant chief with Vancouver Fire Rescue Services, said crews were called Sunday morning and are working it as a 'defensive fire, with no crews making entry.'
'At this time the fire is not contained,' said Sidhu. 'Traffic is heavily impacted … and there is heavy smoke in the area.'
There are no reports of injuries. The fire began in the Vernon Drive Apartments, a derelict rooming house on East Hastings Street. The building has an unknown civic address, said Sidhu.
The Pink Pearl first opened in 1981, but was closed for nearly three years after a fire broke out in its electrical room in 2009.
More to come …
jruttle@postmedia.com
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