Explosion and Fire at Nanaimo and Dundas in Vancouver

by aletteke | April 29, 2009 at 05:24 pm

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Involved is a three story strata building on the north side of Dundas street. We were rocked by the force of the explosion two blocks away. All emergency vehicles responded very quickly and the cleanup is continuing as I write this. I will post more pictures as I do a walk by. Cause is speculative, but from the force I would not discount a meth lab. from where I am at least three units are now unlivable, probably more.

I took my German Shepherd for a walk, man may have left common sense, but I have him, just in case it was too toxic I figured he was good to take with. Walking up the the damaged bulding along Garden Street were clothes which had been cut off the injured two recognizeably from a small size female others in a small pile. Many bottles of distilled water strewn accross the sidewalk. Firemen were still working the scene and ambulances were still standing by. I took several shots accross the alley from the damage behind another building. Glass was everywhere. several neighbouring buildings had windows broken. People were standing ourside their buildings visibly shaken from the concussion. The phrase someone was cooking was something I overheard over and over. It is hard to think what else on a warm day could have produced such a blast and fire. Makes you wonder if you shouldn't know your own neigbours a bit better.

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amyjudd

flagged this story as Eyewitness Report

at 18:10 on April 29th, 2009

This is an eyewitness report from the NowPublic member aletteke who was on the scene.

recommend This comment thread is now closed

Amy Judd

at 18:10 on April 29th, 2009

Unfortunately, I wouldn't discount a meth lab either - thanks for this report.

family (not verified)

at 06:39 on May 6th, 2009

this was not a meth lab, and two of the victims did not reside there. the family is asking for any information anyone has to come forth. as well as prayers for the injured. the condition of one is not looking good. any and all prayers help!

amartens

at 18:44 on April 29th, 2009

Just added a few more pictures. From speaking with some of the building's residents, apparently some large cannisters of butane and other paraphenalia had been found recently in the garbage. by the building manager. They had reportedly contacted Crime Stoppers and the city police several times in the past two weeks, but with no response until today's incident.

There were three individuals said to have been in the apartment at the time of the explosion, a pregnant woman who had minor injuries, and two men who were more seriously hurt. They were renting the apartment - having moved in approximately one month ago - and were not well known to any of the building's other residents.

I believe it is a four-story building (including the ground floor). Looking at the pictures, it seems to be a bedroom with an adjacent bathroom that had exploded. Fortunate that it didn't cause more damage to the building or surrounding area.

[Update]: Google Maps link to the approximate address.

family member (not verified)

at 13:38 on May 3rd, 2009

the severly burned man and his pregnant wife did not reside there! if anyone has anymore information please post it. his family is in the states and can only pray at this point. any information will help!

Mary Frances Hill (not verified)

at 18:54 on April 29th, 2009

Hi,

This incident has now been confirmed as a crime--part of an investigation...

If anyone witnessed this, could you contact me?

I'm Mary Frances Hill, a reporter with the Vancouver Sun, and I'm at

604 605-2366

We'd like to report on this tonight

Thanks

JeffHuang

at 00:35 on April 30th, 2009

Thanks for the eyewitness post

Amy Judd

at 14:06 on April 30th, 2009

Three people were injured.

Two men and a pregnant woman were found in an alleyway after the walls of a third-floor corner suite were blown out around 5 p.m. The victims were rushed to Vancouver General Hospital.

Residents of the building said they felt the building rumble moments before.

``There was a big explosion and everything in my apartment went up in the air and went on fire,'' said Priscilla Richard, who lives above the unit.

Richard said a couple had moved in about two months ago.

She said the landlord had allegedly complained about the couple in the apartment.

The Vancouver Fire Department said traces of butane were found in the suite.

No cause has been determined. Ten units in the four-storey building were damaged.

aletteke

at 16:13 on April 30th, 2009

I've added in a few "aftermath" photos taken today. Last night a number of visibly shaken people from the building were shopping for the necessities at a local drugstore, in shock wondering what comes next. On the way home I came accross a shopping cart full of rusting propane tanks just sitting on the sidewalk, that was last night, they were still there today. You'd get the idea that complaints about dangerous goods disposal are not taken very seriously, along with strange smells and strange neighbours.

family (not verified)

at 07:09 on May 3rd, 2009

if anyone has anymore information about the severly burned man, please respond. his family is in the states and we have little information as to his current situation. we do know that he and his wife did not reside there, and strongly believe this wasnt a meth lab! please send out your prayers, any and every prayer helps!

family member (not verified)

at 18:14 on May 4th, 2009

The seriously injured man is 25 years old. he is from California. Him and his wife dropped their 3 year old daughter off at a babysitters house and proceeded to a friend that lived at this apratment. She is 7months pregnant and they were in no involvement of what went on in that apartment other than the explosion. They have no evidence of a meth lab, you would see everyone wearing hazmat suits and they would have cleared all neighbors within a city block.of explosion. My cousin and his wife was there at the wrong place at the wrong time. If anyone has any word or video of the blast please reply. He is in a comma with 80 to 90% 2nd and 3rd degree burns. Their unborn baby is still alive and well. Please contribute them in your prayers. thank you good bye

friend of the family (not verified)

at 22:22 on May 6th, 2009

I was distressed to hear of the injuries suffered by the young man especially. I am praying for him, and his wife and their children, as well as her brother. By name. I do not believe they were involved in a methlab.

friend of the family (not verified)

at 22:23 on May 6th, 2009

Dana Nance (not verified)

at 09:47 on May 17th, 2009

One of the tenents of this condo was my daughter. I, too, live in the states and am starting to get desperate to find out any current news of this tragedy. My daughter, fortunately, was not home at the time of the explosion. While I am so grateful she was not injured, my heart is broken over the resulting injuries of her boyfriend and the couple that had just arrived at the unit. Additionally, my daughters' beloved cat was killed. My daughter and her boyfriend despised the meth problem in Vancouver and wouldn't associate with people they even thought might be using this drug. They catagorically, were not manufacturing meth or anything else illegal. In the United States, you are innocent until proven guilty, so please don't rush to judgement. My daughter, has been left to try to pick up the pieces, pretty much living at the hospital by the side of her boyfriend and his best friend, who when I last talked to her was still in a coma and was bordering on death. This couple has lost everything they owned and my daughter is trying to cope with so much loss and devastation that occured in the blink of an eye. Having just got out of the hospital myself after undergoing an extremely painful surgery, I last was able to talk to her the weekend of May 9th. We promised to keep in touch with each other daily, but I have been unable to get ahold of her since or get any news on the injured people or the ongoing investigation. Please, if anybody knows anything current, please put a post here or email me at dnanceg@netzero.net.