Fire damages 5 businesses, 4 homes in Kerrisdale area of Vancouver

Vancouver firefighters say five businesses and four residential units above them have been damaged in a significant fire in the city's Kerrisdale neighbourhood.

Assistant Fire Chief Keith Stewart said crews arrived at West 41st Avenue near East Boulevard at around 10 p.m. PT Sunday to find heavy fire in the rear of the two-storey building.

Of the five businesses affectedtwo restaurants, a bakery, a yogurt shop and a vegetable market four are "a total loss,"Stewart said.The businesses are separateunits but are all part of the same building, he said.

The residential units were on the second floor, above the businesses. Stewart said residents in two of the units have been able to stay with family and friends, but emergency social services has had to help the three people in the other two units.

Stewart said it took 55 firefighters to put the fire out, and two of them were injured at the scene.

He said the fire is still under investigation.

Local resident Bianca Yau said she was sad to see the businesses lost to the fire.

"It's very honest and very genuine food," Yau said of Pho Tan's, the Vietnamese restaurant that was destroyed.

"It's real loss, a big loss."

Yau said the grocerthat was destroyed, Sandy Farm Market,was also a popular spot in Kerrisdaleand offered affordable options for shoppers.