Propane tanks explode inside Downtown Eastside tent, damaging building (with video)

Several propane tanks exploded inside of a tent in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside on Sunday night, sending thick black smoke into the sky and causing damage to an adjacent building.

In the video, an initial explosion can be seen at the 1:14 mark, engulfing the tent in flames. A second explosion happens around a minute later as the fire spreads to the building.

A third, fourth and fifth explosion happen around a minute later, as a Vancouver police car pulls up to the scene.

Vancouver Fire Rescue Service Asst. Chief Jarret Gray said crews quickly put out the fire, which burned down several tents and caused damage to the adjacent Imperial building, which originally opened in 1974 and had an ownership change in 2018.

The fire spread to the boarded-up entrance of the building, and activated the internal sprinkler system.

“The fire did not get into the building as the crews knocked it down quickly, but the sprinklers were activated inside the building, causing vast water damage inside the building,” Gray said.