News (Media Awareness Project) - CN BC: Blaze Guts 3-storey Vancouver Heritage Building |
| Title: | CN BC: Blaze Guts 3-storey Vancouver Heritage Building |
| Published On: | 2004-04-26 |
| Source: | Globe and Mail (Canada) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-18 11:42:45 |
BLAZE GUTS 3-STOREY VANCOUVER HERITAGE BUILDING
VANCOUVER -- A historic stretch of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside was
shrouded in smoke yesterday as fire raced through a turn-of-the-century
storefront heritage building.
Billowing black smoke could be seen across the city, and crowds gathered in
a park across the street to watch fire crews battle the blaze that began
just after dawn.
The fire destroyed the Blunt Brothers cafe, a second-hand clothing store
and a bookstore, all on the main floor of the three-storey structure. There
were no injuries.
A Vancouver Fire Department spokesman said a marijuana-growing operation
might also have been in the building, located on a stretch of Hastings
Street just east of the touristy Gastown district.
The destroyed building is next to the headquarters of the B.C. Marijuana
Party and the Amsterdam Cafe, known for its lax policy on customers smoking
pot.
Artist Ken Gerberick, whose studio was on the second floor, raced to the
building with his girlfriend after his son called to say the building was
ablaze.
Mr. Gerberick, 60, estimated that up to 200 pieces of work were in his
studio. "I've lost a lifetime of art," Mr. Gerberick said as he clutched
his partner, Janice Corrado, and watched the flames shoot from the windows.
"I'm pretty upset."
The artist, who constructs installations from pieces of junk, said the
building was erected in 1890. It had tall ceilings and large windows, but
was falling into disrepair. He was not surprised that the fire had spread
so quickly.
Mr. Gerberick said he had no insurance, but his lost work could not be
replaced anyway.
A Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services spokesman said the fire began in three
dumpsters in a lane behind the building, but quickly jumped to the
structure. Arson has not been ruled out.
By the time firefighters arrived, the building was ablaze. Police blocked
off Hastings Street for much of the day as more than 50 firefighters tried
to control the blaze. The adjoining property was damaged by smoke and
water, fire department spokesman Rob Jones-Cook said .
VANCOUVER -- A historic stretch of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside was
shrouded in smoke yesterday as fire raced through a turn-of-the-century
storefront heritage building.
Billowing black smoke could be seen across the city, and crowds gathered in
a park across the street to watch fire crews battle the blaze that began
just after dawn.
The fire destroyed the Blunt Brothers cafe, a second-hand clothing store
and a bookstore, all on the main floor of the three-storey structure. There
were no injuries.
A Vancouver Fire Department spokesman said a marijuana-growing operation
might also have been in the building, located on a stretch of Hastings
Street just east of the touristy Gastown district.
The destroyed building is next to the headquarters of the B.C. Marijuana
Party and the Amsterdam Cafe, known for its lax policy on customers smoking
pot.
Artist Ken Gerberick, whose studio was on the second floor, raced to the
building with his girlfriend after his son called to say the building was
ablaze.
Mr. Gerberick, 60, estimated that up to 200 pieces of work were in his
studio. "I've lost a lifetime of art," Mr. Gerberick said as he clutched
his partner, Janice Corrado, and watched the flames shoot from the windows.
"I'm pretty upset."
The artist, who constructs installations from pieces of junk, said the
building was erected in 1890. It had tall ceilings and large windows, but
was falling into disrepair. He was not surprised that the fire had spread
so quickly.
Mr. Gerberick said he had no insurance, but his lost work could not be
replaced anyway.
A Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services spokesman said the fire began in three
dumpsters in a lane behind the building, but quickly jumped to the
structure. Arson has not been ruled out.
By the time firefighters arrived, the building was ablaze. Police blocked
off Hastings Street for much of the day as more than 50 firefighters tried
to control the blaze. The adjoining property was damaged by smoke and
water, fire department spokesman Rob Jones-Cook said .
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