Value Village store in East Vancouver engulfed by fire

A Value Village store in Vancouver was destroyed byan aggressive fire late Wednesday.

The fire broke out inside the buildingat the intersection of Victoria Drive and East Hastings Street just afterafter 10:30 p.m.

"Crews arrived to find the building fully engulfed, with flames coming out of the window onto the front street," said Brad Hesse, assistant chief of operations with Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services (VFRS).

Hesse said nearly 50 firefighters extinguished 90 per cent of the fire by midnight.

No injuries or missing people were reported,Hesse said. Pictures taken after the fire broke outshowed the store nearly reduced toitsfoundation. OnlookerslinedHastings Street as first responders fought the fire, which sent a plume of black smoke through parts of the city.

"The fire damage is contained to the building itself. But surrounding buildings have sustained some smoke and heat damage," Hesse said.

"Crews did a great job getting water on it ... but unfortunately, the building was already fully involved, so very tough to save much over there."

Eyewitness Mary Ho saidshe "could feel the heat from across the alley" near thestore.

Hesse said that streets around the intersection, which bordersbusy Commercial Drive, were likely to remain closed for most of thenight as crews cleaned up and fire investigators arrived.

The cause of thefire has not yet been determined.