Four people taken to hospital after fire at Vancouver home

Broadway and Fraser, Vancouver (Dec 31/13)

(Jesse Johnston, News1130 Photo)

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) Crews are still dealing with a stubborn fire that has gutted a Vancouver home and sent four people to the hospital.

The fire broke out early this morning at Broadway and Fraser Street.

One woman is unaccounted for, but its not yet clear if she was home at the time. Fire Chief John McKearney says she lives in the attic of the building and crews are looking into whether she could have been staying somewhere else overnight. Were absolutely hopeful nobody is there.

Paul lives in the basement suite at the home; he says he was woken up early this morning by screaming neighbours who were yelling at him to get out of his home. I went to open the door [and saw] a big fire. It was spread everywhere. So, we basically just went out the door. I felt kind of half-asleep and realized its everything weve got there.

He says the building is old and hes been concerned about the wiring for some time now, but theres still no word as to what caused the fire. But McKearney says appears the fire started in a carport area behind the home.

A couple of people who live in the house had to crawl onto the roof of a neighbouring house, until crews could come rescue them.

A firefighter has a dislocated shoulder, while the conditions of the other three people taken to hospital are unknown.

Broadway remains closed at Fraser Street.

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Four people taken to hospital after fire at Vancouver home