Smoke from a fire rises at the Port
Metro Vancouver, British Columbia March 4, 2015. REUTERS/Ben Nelms
A four-alarm chemical fire broke out
at Port Metro Vancouver Wednesday afternoon, sending hazardous smoke into the
air and causing evacuations and warnings to people in the area to stay indoors.
The fire broke out at approximately
1:40 p.m. inside a container at the Port’s Centerm Container Terminal on the
south shore of Burrard Inlet. Vancouver Coastal Health confirmed the material
inside is a hazardous organic compound, trichloroisocyanuric acid, which can
cause eye and skin irritation.
The fire is reported to have spread
to at least two other containers at the terminal, according to the Vancouver
Fire Department.
Vancouver Coastal Health warned that
people experiencing wheezing or difficulty breathing, especially people lung
problems, should seek medical attention.
The fire forced the shut down of all
operations on the Port’s south shore, Port Metro Vancouver tweeted.
The Centerm Container Terminal is
operated DP World Vancouver.
A statement from Port Metro
Vancouver said:
Our primary concern is the safety of
first responders, the public and all port workers. The Centerm container
terminal and nearby port properties have been evacuated. All port operations
along the south shore of Burrard Inlet have been shut down, including rail and
truck access. Vancouver Fire and Vancouver Coastal Health are on-site and
actively determining if any additional evacuations are required. We will
continue to monitor the situation and provide further information as it becomes
available.
An update posted to Twitter at 1750
PST by Port Metro Vancouver said that Vancouver Fire and Rescue has lifted the
“shelter in place” order.
//---------------------------------------------//
Chemical Fire at Port Metro Vancouver Contained
A four-alarm fire broke out in a
container on Wednesday afternoon at the Centerm container terminal on the south
shore of Burrard Inlet, Port Metro Vancouver.
Vancouver Coastal Health confirmed
the material inside was a hazardous organic compound (trichloroisocyanuric
acid), and that it was a possible eye and skin irritant.
The Vancouver Fire Department was
rushed to the scene to extinguish the fire. The Vancouver Fire Chief issued a
shelter-in-place order for the surrounding area urging the public to stay away
amid health concerns.
“Our primary concern is the
safety of first responders, the public and all port workers. The Centerm
container terminal and nearby port properties have been evacuated. All port
operations along the south shore of Burrard Inlet have been shut down,
including rail and truck access. Vancouver Fire and Vancouver Coastal Health
are on-site and actively determining if any additional evacuations are
required,” the Port Metro Vancouver said.
The fire was contained later in the
day and the resulting smoke was diminishing, based on the latest update.
The shelter-in-place order has been
lifted for the surrounding area and the firefighting teams remain on scene. The
public is still encouraged to stay away from the area.
“Port Metro Vancouver continues to
collaborate in responding along with partners including the Vancouver Fire
Department, Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, the City of Vancouver and the
Vancouver Police Department. We will continue to monitor the situation and
provide further information as it becomes available,” the port added.
Investigation into the cause of the
fire is underway.
