Police investigating ‘suspicious’ fire at Vancouver’s PNE, no injuries reported

VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Police Department says its major crimes section is investigating an overnight fire at the Pacific National Exhibition that firefighters say involved explosions and 30-metre flames.

Assistant Fire Chief Brian Bertuzzi says crews responded to the volatile blaze on the northwest corner of Hastings Park at around 12:30 a.m. Sunday.

He says no one was on site at the time of the blaze and no firefighters were injured putting it out.

Bertuzzi says there was a high fuel load on site, including 500 litres of gasoline storage and high-pressure propane tanks.

He says two Zambonis and up to a dozen trucks were involved in the fire, which did not affect the part of the grounds where horses are kept.

Police say 20 vehicles and a building were damaged and the fire is considered suspicious.

Police are working with firefighters on the investigation.

“It was a very large, volatile fire with many explosions and flames shooting upward,” Bertuzzi said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 20, 2022.