Police are asking drivers to avoid Prior Street as Vancouver firefighters battle a house fire.
Prior is closed to all traffic between Jackson and Gore avenues as firefighters respond to a fire affecting four homes. Both the east- and west-bound viaducts are closed to traffic.
Jonathan Gormick, public information officer for Vancouver Fire, said firefighters were called to the 300-block of Prior Street just before 6 a.m. Thursday.
Upon arrival, he said, firefighters found one home, which appears to be abandoned, completely engulfed in flames and almost entirely destroyed. Gormick said there are unconfirmed reports that there were squatters living in the home.
The fire spread to a neighbouring home that also suffered significant damage. Gormick said firefighters were unable to get into that house because of a large amount of debris in the home and added that it’s still uncertain if anyone was in the home at the time of the fire.
The fire spread to two more houses, which suffered heavy damage on the upper floors. Firefighters were able to get everyone out of those homes safely.
The fire is mostly out with firefighters dealing with hot spots.
