Crews have extinguished the fires at two lodges in North Vancouver, one within the Lonsdale space and one other in Lynn Valley, that broke out early Tuesday, hearth officers say.
Later Tuesday morning, the Vancouver Police Division (VPD) mentioned in an announcement that they’re investigating an arson on the Masonic corridor close to Rupert Avenue and East twenty ninth Avenue and are actively looking for a suspect.
No accidents have been reported at any of the fires.
Officers posted at different Masonic halls
Mike Sereda, Vancouver assistant hearth chief, mentioned crews have been known as to a hearth on the Park Lodge Masonic Centre round 7:15 a.m. native time.
“Police have been already on scene. That they had been contacted by a passerby,” he mentioned, including a hearth investigator was on the scene to find out the reason for the hearth.
Detectives on the scene on the Park Lodge Masonic Centre declined to supply an replace on the investigation. The glass of the centre’s entrance door had been smashed in and the within stairwell was burned and blackened.
The VPD mentioned it’s now posting officers in any respect different Masonic halls in Vancouver.
“We’re working with our companions on the North Vancouver RCMP to determine any linkages between the hearth in Vancouver and the 2 fires in North Vancouver,” it mentioned in an announcement.
Lonsdale hearth
One of many fires engulfed the Duke of Connaught Lodge No. 64 close to Lonsdale Avenue and twelfth Avenue, North Vancouver RCMP mentioned.
Terri Bubas, who may see the flames in Lonsdale from two blocks away, says the hearth began earlier than 7 a.m. PT and no less than 5 hearth vehicles responded.
“A number of flames and the brickwork has collapsed and the highest of the constructing,” she mentioned. “It is fairly a scene of devastation, truly.”
Bubas additionally noticed police vehicles and ambulances on scene.
Town block the place the Lonsdale hearth began features a health centre, a juice restaurant and workplace area.
Lonsdale hearth in North Van devastating business constructing <a href=”https://t.co/TB5o3dVH7z”>pic.twitter.com/TB5o3dVH7z</a>
—@ybrend
Lynn Valley hearth
Hearth investigators and RCMP arson investigators have been additionally on the scene of a second Masonic lodge the place a hearth broke out in North Vancouver’s Lynn Valley space.
North Vancouver assistant hearth chief Jeremy Duncan says a neighbour reported a hearth on the Lynn Valley Lodge, close to Lynn Valley Highway and Harold Highway at roughly 6:30 a.m.
“Upon arrival there was heavy flames on the doorway means and the outside of the constructing,” he mentioned. Extra models needed to be known as to reply, Duncan says, and no less than 26 firefighters have been on the scene.
Hannah Sluis, a barista at Waves Espresso on Mountain Freeway, says she noticed flames engulfing the lodge as she drove to work.
“As I set to work the entire sky was stuffed with smoke,” she mentioned. “I simply did my finest to maintain it out of the shop.”
Sluis mentioned she noticed no less than eight firefighters on the scene and that the street was blocked off.
