West End high-rise fire leads to building evacuation; no injuries reported

Vancouver firefightersquickly containeda fire at a high-riseapartment in Vancouver's West EndThursday night after a blaze thatforced residents out of their homes.

No one was injured,according to officials with Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services.Residents were barred from returning to the building while fire crews worked to determined if it was safe tore-enter and how much damage had been done by smoke and water.

The fire broke out on the 16th floor of the building in the 1100 block of Beach Avenue. Flames could be seen coming fromthe balcony of theunit. Reports ofthe fire came in around 6 p.m. PT.

"The crews did an amazing job and got water on the fire fairly quickly," saidDan Stroup, assistant chief with Vancouver Fire andRescue Services.

"Theygot up there so fast and did stop it spreading to other floors."

Stroup said the fire damage is contained to that floor, but there could be water damage to other levels of the building.

Moses Vega was having dinner down the street with his girlfriend when his brother texted him that the building was on fire. He hurried to the scene.

"When we got here, the flames were already gone but they told us we can't get in there for a few hours," Vega said.

ResidentNitesh Patel also wasn'tin the building at the time of the fire, but arrived after. He had been shopping nearby.

He said he's not worried about his unit."I can see the light in my apartment there, so I'm good," Patel said.

The cause of the fire isunder investigation.