Paris - Notre Dame's Beauty Post Fire

Notre Dame was cleaned as it was restored

Back to writing about Paris as I've so many more things to say about my trip!

After we visited Musee d'Orsay, we went to Notre Dame. Unfortunately traffic was a mess because of road construction, so our Uber inched around the block like a snail. For us the benefit was being able to have a short nap in a 20-minute ride that should have taken five minutes.

The cathedral was crawling with tourists

When we arrived, there was a massive line in front of the basilica, but because we had timed tickets, we pretty much walked in. The tickets are free, but can only be booked at most a day in advance. Visitors are also warned not to wear shorts above the knee and shoulders should not be bare.

However, depending on the security guard, some sleeveless tourists were able to go through, while others were given temporary shawls to cover themselves. Shorts of all lengths seemed to have no problem getting in.

Once we were inside, the place was crawling with tourists, and every few minutes a pre-recorded male voice on a loop would make a shhhh sound and plead for silence; it mostly went unheeded.

We were really interested in visiting the Notre Dame following the horrific fire in April 2019 that destroyed the cathedral's wooden spire and most of the wooden roof which caused extensive damage inside. While the three rose windows were undamaged, some lead joints in some 19th century stained glass windows melted.

The rose windows were undamaged

French President Emmanuel Macron announced a five-year timeline to complete the restoration of the Notre Dame (in time for the Paris Olympics), with donors pledging over 840 million euros. The cathedral was re-opened in December 2024, with restorers still working on a few stained glass windows (which were temporarily covered up).

After the fire there was discussion of whether to restore Notre Dame to what it looked like before or to modernise it, but because the building is a Unesco World Heritage site, the cathedral had to be reconstruct it like before.

It gave restorers an assignment of doing trades from centuries before, of which only a few experts have experience. Nevertheless it was still a beautiful experience to be in the cathedral; if the scaffolding in some parts were not there, you would not have known it had suffered damage. In fact the restorers took advantage of Notre Dame's closure to clean it, and so it looks brighter than it was before.

Residents of Wang Fuk Court Blaze Retrieve Items

Some managed to retrieve items in their flats

It's heartbreaking to watch first-person footage of victims of the Wang Fuk inferno last November go see their burnt out flats, possibly for the last time.

Those who could walk up the stairs showed the reporters gathered what their former homes looked like. 

Some were able to find cherished items like watches, jewellery, and pictures, while others were left with charred belongings that were hard to identify.

The media ask residents about their experiences

One man brought his camera to take pictures from the window to preserve his memories of the view he used to see everyday.

Another somehow managed to find the ashes of his two cats and discovered some clothes that were not burned in the fire; even if he removed them, could he remove the smell of smoke from them?

The Hong Kong government says 6,265 people from 1,674 households registered to go to the towers, with only 50 households not participating.

According to the government's data, one family visited their flat for only four minutes, while the longest was four hours and eight minutes, longer than the three-hour stipulation.

The authorities received 800 requests to go back to collect more items. One was a man surnamed Mak who is a furniture designer who lived on the fifth floor of Wang Shing House.

He could only bring back small furniture items made of rosewood, and had to leave bigger furniture pieces and paintings behind.

"We feel quite helpless," Mak said. "But what I hope for the most is that justice is served. Those who should be held accountable must be punished, and those who should be jailed should be put on trial."

Taking pictures of burned out photo albums

A resident surnamed Wong lost his parents in the fire last November. He was hoping to salvage his mother's jewellery and any mementos.

His eyes welled up when he said his father died on his birthday.

"I did not have any chance to wish my father a happy birthday," Wong said. "I hope they rest in peace."

Meanwhile a woman surnamed Au felt overwhelmed when she returned to her home, and was only able to retrieve a charred safe and some valuables.

The mother of three was gratified to be allowed to leave food and flower offerings to pay tribute to the 168 people who died, and almost 5,000 residents displaced. 

"Every step back to the flat is very difficult," she said. "Everything we know about the court, the park, and even the lobby entrance has changed. It has become so unfamiliar to us."

This is also possibly one of the last times Au saw her neighbours, now dispersed around Hong Kong living in different places and trying to rebuild their lives. It's a tragedy that will continue for years to come.

Tai Po Fire Victims Use Exoskeletons to See Former Homes

Former residents can go into their flats starting next week

The victims of the Wang Fuk Court fire in Tai Po will finally get a chance to see first hand the conditions of their flats when they are allowed to go in from April 20 to May 4.

In late November a burning inferno spread to seven of eight apartment buildings, killing 168 people and displacing more than 4,000 residents.

Many have complained bitterly that only allowed three hours is not enough time to gather all their belongings, but they may not have much to retrieve, as many flats were burned out, or completely gutted.

Some are practicing using an exoskeleton

A number of the former residents are elderly and the elevators won't be working in the apartment buildings that have 31 storeys.

As a result, many are turning to technology to give them a physical boost. Some are practicing going up the stairs using exoskeletons that are attached to the waist and knees to help them walk up.

One is 59-year-old Fanny Mok, who is using the device to be able to climb up to the 13th floor where she used to live.

"My knees hurt, I don't have enough strength, and I get short of breath," she said. "There's a real need. If I were 30 I wouldn't need it. But at 60, I genuinely do."

An NGO called AidVengers Federation is lending out the exoskeletons and teaching people how to use them. The devices are made by Hypershell, a Shanghai-based robotics company. 

All former residents who want to use the exoskeleton must pass a test before being able to operate the device. The pass rate is 70 percent, according to the NGO.

Some put on the exoskeleton to use the stairs

Once the residents make it up to their flats, can they physically move all the stuff (if there is anything remaining) down all those floors too?

Those few days are going to be traumatic for the victims; I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like seeing what is left of your home following such a horrific disaster.

Tai Po Fire Inquiry Reveals Safety Issues

The inquiry into the Tai Po fire has uncovered many issues

Reading reports related to the inquiry into the horrific Tai Po fire in Hong Kong last November are absolutely tragic.

One hundred and sixty-eight people died and 79 were injured when a fire started on November 26 in one of the apartment buildings at Wang Fuk Court, and the wind carried the fire onto the other buildings that were covered in combustible mesh. 

The fire burned over 43 hours, leaving some victims unidentifiable because the temperature was so hot.

The fire left 168 people dead, 79 injured

Some residents testified they did not hear the fire alarms because they had been purposely shut off for workers to easily go in and out of the buildings. 

Others felt guilty for not checking on their neighbours, many of them elderly people, and instead fled from the inferno on their own. It is shocking and sad how they had complete disregard for others, but also they had no idea their home was on fire until loved ones called to tell them because their windows were covered over with polyfoam boards to prevent damaging windows.

Then there is the shady aspect of companies that specifically bid for these exterior renovation jobs, and it seems that there is a cartel, charging excessive amounts of money -- in this case HK$336 million (US$43 million), and allegations of rigging, though the government denies collusion.

There is also the issue of these renovation companies flouting safety regulations.

Several residents at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po had complained several times to the authorities about the renovation workers smoking and littering cigarette butts, but not much was done to punish them or their employer. 

There was also lax inspection of the scaffolding mesh -- the company was tipped off before inspectors came, and they replaced ones near the bottom with non-combustible mesh, while the rest were the cheaper, combustible ones. 

Combustible mesh caused the fire to spread

The Fire Services Department, Labour Department, and the Housing Bureau's Independent Checking Unit have insisted they were not responsible for checking the fireproof quality of the mesh that covered the exterior of the buildings to minimise dust and objects falling on people. 

Why are these departments not taking the responsibility to inspect renovations in progress and take the residents' concerns seriously before the fire? 

Too many things went wrong that day, and it didn't help that it was quite windy. But it is not just Wang Fuk Court -- there are many other older buildings in Hong Kong being renovated with similar lax procedures. 

Hopefully the inquiry will put forward some good recommendations so this tragedy will not be repeated, with an emphasis on safety for all. This fire could have been prevented, or minimised had regulations been followed and inspections been more stringent.

 

Fire Destroys Restaurateurs' Dreams

A fire above Osteria Otto has displaced six residents

Last night a fire broke out in Vancouver, near Broadway and Main, which destroyed a restaurant that had just opened in December.

Osteria Otto was full when the fire happened in a bedroom unit above the restaurant, and luckily the patrons managed to evacuate from the premises, but now the owners, Ignacio Arrieta and Joe Fazio, who spent more than a year planning and renovating, now have a gutted space, and their staff have lost their jobs.

"For three wonderful months, we had the privilege of serving this community and seeing our vision come to life, but this chapter as we knew it has come to a sudden and heavy end," says a message on Osteria Otto's Instagram post.

The restaurant was destroyed

"While everyone is safe, the water damage from the firefighting efforts has left the restaurant completely destroyed, and it is clear that our future is uncertain as we work with the city and insurance."

The owners have set up a GoFundMe page for the staff, and to help with navigating the restaurant's next steps. 

So far just over $15,000 has been raised, with a goal of $80,000. The provincial Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs Christine Boyle donated $100, as well as Kavita chef Tushar Tondvalkar, and pastry chef Daria Andriienko. 

Meanwhile six residents have been displaced, and fire investigators are looking into an electric blanket that may have caused the fire.

Restaurants in Vancouver are already having a tough time, with fewer people having extra money to spend eating out. Just opening a restaurant is a massive capital expenditure, and then having a fire snuff it out after three months is absolutely devastating.

While the hospitality industry rallies around Osteria Otto, it will take more money just to get back to square one again.

Where do Tai Po Fire Survivors Go from Here?

Wang Chi House residents grabbed items from their flats

If you were only given 90 minutes to fetch things from your home, with no reassurances you could return to live there, which items would you get?

That's what happened to the residents of Wang Chi House, the only building that was untouched in the devastating Tai Po fire last week.

On Wednesday and Thursday from 9am to 9pm, two members from each household were allowed to go into their flats for 90 minutes.

Many people went back to fill suitcases full of clothes, important documents, and treasured photographs, while others even managed to extract their washing machines. One man surnamed Suen told RTHK he went back to get some household goods as well as his game console. Everyone has different priorities...

Despite some of these Wang Chi House residents reporting their homes smelled of smoke, many interviewed in the media expect or hope to move back into the building soon.

Thousands of paper cranes memorialise victims

However, their homes may be too carcinogenic for them to return to, and there is talk that the seven burned out buildings will probably have to be demolished because they may be structurally unsafe, while those who believe in restless spirits may not want to live there again.

In the meantime many of the victims of the fire are worrying about where to live next, as they can only stay in hotels paid for by the government for two weeks and other temporary housing are already full. 

According to the Hong Kong government, 1,152 residents have accommodation in youth hostels, camps or hotel rooms, and another 1, 765 residents in transitional housing units. Others are staying at the Tai Po Community Centre or the Tung Cheong Street Community Hall. One can imagine these shelters aren't exactly comfortable and cooler temperatures are settling in for the next few months.

What is the long-term plan for these residents who may have lost loved ones, lost their homes, and lost all their possessions? They not only need financial help but also psychological counselling and support. 

It will take weeks if not months for the authorities to complete their investigations and identify all the deceased, some of them found as ash. There are also concerns that charging the 21 people arrested so far with alleged manslaughter may be hard to prove with the complexity of construction law and building regulations.

In other words it's not a cut and dried case. 

Meanwhile, despite the government trying to clear the area of grassroots volunteers and their resources, mourners continue to come to Tai Po to pay their respects with flowers, handwritten notes, and paper cranes.

It shows Hongkongers continue to be shaken by the horrific man-made disaster and demand accountability. 

Going through flats to recover victim remains

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu will be under a lot of pressure to find out how the fire started, and to punish those involved in causing the fire to spread to seven buildings, killing at least 159 people.

The authorities tried to clamp down on protests when 24-year-old student Miles Kwan was arrested and then later released without charge. He had started an online petition and passed out fliers outlining "four demands", which included guaranteed support for the victims and accountability for those at fault, including any government officials.

He was detained and charged for "seditious intention" for speaking out what many had been thinking.

In the meantime it is heartbreaking hearing Superintendent Cheng Ka-chun, the officer in charge of the Disaster Victim Identification describe the grim task of how he and his team have gone floor by floor to find victim remains.

"Our colleagues, in a bid to keep the bodies more intact for their return to their families, chose to dig for the bodies using their hands, touching sand, mud and polluted water," he said, when explaining why they chose to recover corpses by hand instead of using equipment.

"Their only goal was to preserve the integrity of the bodies."

This demonstrates how they are doing their utmost to respect the victims and their loved ones, taking time and care to preserve the remains the best they can.

Hongkongers looking after Hongkongers. This is the Lion Rock Spirit.

Hongkongers Search for Answers After Inferno

At least 156 people have died from the fire. Credit Getty Images

I have just returned from a two-week trip to Hong Kong and China, and like everyone else, am devastated by the Tai Po inferno that killed at least 156 people. As the authorities comb through the wreckage of the seven buildings, the number of dead will only continue to rise.

In the afternoon of November 26, my relatives and I had finished lunch in Macau, and then went to the Hengqin border where we were driven to Zhongshan to see my uncle's apartment.

Periodically I began getting news updates about a fire in Tai Po and it became very shocking when I started seeing the video footage of the flames engulfing the mesh that covered the bamboo scaffolding.

As the number of casualties began to rise I wondered what was going on. Did residents think fires didn't happen in concrete buildings?

Later it was revealed the buildings were undergoing an extensive renovation of the exterior, costing around HK$160,000 (US$20,546) per flat. Their windows were sealed with styrofoam material to prevent debris from damaging the glass, and much of the green mesh covering the scaffolding were not fire-resistant.

Stories subsequently came out from survivors who told of being completely unaware their building was on fire until their loved ones called them. Even the firefighters could not reach them because the scaffolding was in the way and the fire temperature was so hot.

There were reports the government wanted to phase out bamboo scaffolding in favour of metal -- this was quickly dismissed by passionate Hongkongers who made videos trying to set bamboo sticks alight, or explaining to people outside of the city that bamboo is a building material that has been used for over 100 years.

After having experienced a relatively small fire in my neighbourhood in August last year, when a six-storey wood-construction condo building was on fire. The cause is still unknown. The two fire chiefs at the scene recently told us residents that the fire was so hot, they didn't even imagine that the construction crane would melt and collapse the way it did.

So to say that metal would be safer is very hard to say; it would probably make the fire even hotter.

It took over two days for firefighters to have the flames of the Tai Po fire under control.

Meanwhile grassroots groups saw the news and began coming together with water, blankets and food for the affected residents and firefighters. They just setup near the area and gave victims whatever they needed. It was so heartening to see them rally behind these residents who have lost their homes, or worse their loved ones. Some lost their pets, unable to get inside, as firefighters and police stopped them because it was so dangerous with the falling debris and the heat.

But after extensive media coverage of how these NGOs and local groups had mobilised so quickly, donating clothes, food, water, even their electric cars for people to charge their phones, the Hong Kong government cleared everyone out; perhaps the scenes are too reminiscent of what happened over six years ago, or even 11 years ago, when protesters were on the streets...

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has pledged a judge will lead a committee to investigate the cause of the fire; perhaps his administration, particularly the Labour Department should have listened to residents' concerns about the green mesh not being fire resistant and witnessing the construction workers smoking on site. While warnings were issued by the Labour Department, it seems punishment was not enforced.

Some survivors have raged about being forced to pay HK$160,000 in renovation fees, only to have their homes go up in smoke. 

As a friend said to me, governments are not prepared for disasters, but it is how they deal with them is what matters. 

Two days ago actor Chow Yun-fat opened the MAMA Awards by speaking in Cantonese, Mandarin and English, asking the audience to stand up for a moment of silence to pay tribute to the victims of the Tai Po fire. He was genuinely upset and felt this was an important gesture for Hong Kong.

The government declared three days of mourning from Friday to Sunday. Thousands of mourners descended on Tai Po, creating a 2km line, patiently waiting to walk closer to the makeshift alter near the fire-ravaged buildings where they left flowers, handwritten notes and toys. 

Hongkongers will never forget this horrific tragedy, nor will they stop finding out who should be accountable.

A mainlander, Jiang Yaling, who writes the Follow the Yuan on Substack, commented how the Hong Kong authorities deal with victims very differently from in China. Typically if a disaster happens, the victims and families are immediately shuffled into hotel rooms and forbidden from speaking to the media; she was very surprised to see how Hongkongers were able to speak freely with emotion...

For now a lot of fundraising has been done, over HK$1.3 billion raised. But where exactly will all this aid go? Will victims get the money directly? Or will it be given to charity groups? Where are people going to live now? They can't live in hotel rooms for weeks on end. And what kind of compensation will they get? 

All eyes are on the Hong Kong authorities. Will they step up and serve the people as they have promised?

At least 13 Dead in a Massive Taipo Blaze

The fires are still burning in a Taipo housing estate

***As of 10am November 27 HK time there are 44 dead, 279 missing***

Hong Kong is on edge watching fires still raging nine hours later engulfing several buildings in a housing estate in Taipo, where at least 13 people, including one firefighter died in the No. 5 blaze, the highest rating in severity. 

The residential buildings at Wang Fuk Court were covered in bamboo scaffolding when the fires broke out this afternoon after 3pm. Currently there are reports of 70 people still trapped, 200 missing. 

News reports say 128 fire trucks, 57 ambulances, 767 firefighters and 400 police officers were deployed to the scene.

According to the New York Times, a 74-year-old resident heard a firefighter pounding on his door to evacuate after 3pm, but he and his wife refused to move and it wasn't until three hours later they were rescued. 

Andy Yeung Yan-kin, Hong Kong's director of fire services said the heat was so hot inside the buildings it was difficult to rescue people.

The city's residents will not be sleeping tonight; some have brought noodles, bread and water to rescuers and victims.

This fire reminds me of the November 1996 Garley Building fire in Jordan where 41 people died, making it the worst building fire in Hong Kong in peacetime. One of the casualties was an acquaintance's brother who was a firefighter.

However, this Taipo fire may be worse at this rate.

We are all anxiously watching.

Learning from Last Year's Fire

Fire at West 41st and Collingwood

Last August my parents and I were sitting at home about to eat dinner when we heard three big booms south of us.

I went outside to take a look and didn't see anything.

But then there were more explosion sounds and I walked down to the end of the block. From this vantage point looking south down the hill I could see a big black plume of smoke south east of us. As I walked down two blocks closer to the fire I saw giant flames beyond the tall trees. It was a frightening sight.

Saw giant black plume of smoke, fire

Later on social media there were videos of the six-storey building that was under construction was completely on fire. Another clip showed the building crane "melt" and fall away from the site, crashing onto the road. Luckily no one was there, and the fire truck had just moved away from that spot!

Then there was a commotion across the street from us -- our neighbour's roof was smouldering thanks to flying embers. The fire fighters told us to survey our roofs to see if there was any smoke. Luckily we were OK, but it was a scary lesson in how fires can easily start.

This evening three fire servicemen from the Vancouver Fire Rescue Services came to our neighbourhood meeting to talk about that fire, and two of them were on the ground fighting it.

They explained that since 2009 the City of Vancouver has allowed wood construction for six-storey buildings which was adopted in the building code. According to these fire service men, these buildings are faster to build, use sustainable material, and in this case, the rules around construction and safety were all followed before the fire. 

Unfortunately they still don't know the cause of the fire; a private investigator is working on the case for insurance purposes, but will not share their findings with the fire service...

The building was near completion, with insulation, a very light material stored on the roof -- these were the embers that flew several blocks away onto our porches and roofs causing a few fires here and there.

So when the firemen arrived, the fire was so hot, they had to wear their fire gloves right away. Luckily fire prevention materials were installed in the house next to the construction site which saved the other houses further along from bursting into flames from the sheer heat.

Embers landed at our home

Nevertheless, when they tried to fight the fire on the construction site, the water completely dissipated because the fire was so hot. They could only make sure the other houses did not catch fire and that the occupants were evacuated. No one was killed, but the crane fell onto a house, and the person happened to be in the washroom, and the crane missed him! The firefighters had to extract him from the window.

There are 21 fire stations in the city, but they were also pre-occupied with a big fire that engulfed an abandoned apartment building on East 10th. Hours later the fire near us erupted.

The VFRS called on Richmond and Burnaby to help out -- Richmond came because they are on the same radio frequency, Burnaby is on a different one. Richmond was helpful in putting out smaller fires in the area, but it showed the VFRS need to know how to deploy people when there's more than one major fire. The fire captain also admitted he had no idea how thirsty his firefighters were until they said they needed water.

VFRS learned a lot from the fire, such as the need to communicate with the public, staffing issues, and that cranes can collapse in fires, and calling for help from other jurisdictions. Early next year people with smartphones will receive messages in case you live in a certain area where there is a fire and give instructions on what to do.

As for homeowners, it's best to change from cedar shingle roofs to asphalt ones, which we just did this summer. They suggested ensuring gutters are clean, and try to keep trees a maximum height of three metres tall, or at least prune as much as possible and keep yards tidy. Firewood should not be stacked up by the house, and if there is a fire nearby, close the windows and turn on the garden hose and keep the house as wet as possible.

It was a stimulating discussion and we all learned a lot! Needless to say we thanked the three fire services men for their work in putting out the fire eventually and keeping the rest of us safe!

Los Angeles Wildfires Continue to Rage

Numerous homes have been engulfed by flames in Los Angeles

The shocking images of the fires ravaging Los Angeles are horrifying and tragic. At least five people have died, numerous homes completely destroyed, and over 100,000 people displaced. The biggest fire in Palisades has not been contained, thanks to bone-dry conditions and fast-moving winds.

The growing inferno has spared no one, with the rich and famous helpless as they watch fires engulf their mansions in the prestigious Hollywood area. Actors like James Woods and Mark Hamill were directly impacted, while Steve Gutenberg tried to help direct traffic. 

Video footage from someone inside their home shows raging fires surrounding them, and they don't know what to do; on social media it was reported they managed to escape, but there is no update.

Water bombers from Canada are fighting the fires

While fires are common in Los Angeles, it is not common to see the flames reaching Hollywood Boulevard, where stars plant their hands in slabs of cement on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and the Chinese Theater. It's crazy to have these fires so close to the city.

Meanwhile, the Getty Museum reported that although some trees and vegetation on the property were burned down, the museum itself was not affected, which is a relief to hear. It houses Getty's collection of Greek, Etruscan and Roman antiquities in a beautiful setting overlooking the city.

If people have not already evacuated, they have been instructed to be ready to leave their homes at a moment's notice. What do you choose to bring with you if you have only minutes to think about it? It's a gut-wrenching situation to be in. Many may have lost their pets that may have run away in fear.

All this is happening while President-elect Donald Trump blames President Joe Biden and California Governor Gavin Newsom for the wildfires... how is this helpful?

It is not helpful when the water is running out from the fire hydrants, though water bombers and helicopters -- from Quebec and British Columbia -- are trying their best to clamp down on the infernos from above.

So yes -- good neighbours help each other... not threaten to take them over...

The Day After the Fire

The blackened skeletal frame of the building was left

This morning the area where the massive fire erupted last night was still cordoned off, with firefighters still on the scene, putting out any smouldering fires, while BC Hydro crews worked overnight and into the morning to restore electricity to a few hundred people.

Bits of burnt embers spread far

The crane that had collapsed in the fire was still lying on the street this morning so traffic was diverted for most of the day, while 81 people who were evacuated had to spend the night at the nearby Crofton House School. Even though some people's homes were not damaged by the fire, firefighters deemed them unsafe to return just yet, though they were able to go in and retrieve some essentials and stay in a hotel.

Meanwhile British Columbia work regulator Work Safe BC was at the site of the fire to investigate how the blaze happened and their work is ongoing.

After I returned from a lunch appointment downtown, I walked around the neighbourhood to see how far the embers had spread. I could still see bits of black burnt out embers on the ground as far as 27th Avenue and Camosun, near St George's School. 

One person near the school reported 10 holes in their deck from the fiery embers!

Another neighbour wondered if these black embers were safe to just dispose of because to him (a retired engineer), they looked like burnt out chunks of foam insulation...

Embers across the street on 34th Ave

Health concerns were the last things on people's minds... people were more concerned what had happened and what was going to happen to the construction site. It was confirmed the gas lines had been installed, which explains the large explosions, but other than that it may take days or weeks to find out how it all started...

Dramatic Dinnertime Inferno

The fire caused the crane to collapse and fall onto the street

Just as we were sitting down to dinner at home tonight, around 6.30pm, I heard four big booms, explosions. Soon after I could hear sirens.

I went out the door to see other neighbours walking over to see what was going on. We went to Dunbar Street and could see a giant plume of smoke. As we walked towards it, we could see large, angry flames. Even though we were blocks away I could feel the heat already.

Smoke smouldering on the roof

It looked like it was coming from the construction site where a multi-storey seniors' home was being built, and it was completely engulfed in flames.

Many people continued to make their way closer to 41st Avenue, but a South Asian man walking towards us said the embers were so hot it was hard for him to breathe and told us to stay away.

I took a few pictures and then went back home and noticed some black chunks on our lawn -- they were blackened embers that had flown from that fire to our place several blocks away.

After eating a bit of dinner I could hear shouts outside and went out again. This time it was our neighbour's roof that was smouldering! The family of three, including their adult son were outside. The wife having a video call with relatives and telling them that someone knocked on their house to tell them their roof was on fire, while the son had his phone glued to his ear, talking to his friends.

A firetruck was already there, with firefighters suited up. They got their ladder out and climbed up to the roof with a hose to put the fire out. One of the fire officials advised us to check our properties to see if anything was smouldering and I looked over our roof twice to make sure. While there was no smoke, there were lots of black chunks of burnt out embers lying on the ground and bits of white material too.

Burnt out embers 

One neighbour said a construction crane melted where the massive fire was and on X (formerly Twitter) I found the footage -- the crane collapsed from the heat and fell across the street onto a house, while burning embers caused a house to catch on fire as well.

The crane falling on the street had taken down trolley bus wires and electricity wires, causing a power outage in the area. 

Later in the evening we drove by trying to get a look, but the area was still blocked off. 

As far as we know there were no deaths or injuries, though firefighters suffered minor ones.

Thank goodness everyone is safe and accounted for. A lot of drama in the neighbourhood this evening!

It wasn't the only burning inferno -- another building in east Vancouver was also on fire. An abandoned apartment building at 414 East 10th Avenue was in flames -- a year after fire had displaced 70 people.

Four Vancouver Businesses Gutted by Fire

The three-alarm fire started at 10pm at the back of Nando's

This morning we woke up to the news that some businesses in a neighbourhood near where we live were destroyed after a fire last night. It's quite a shock as I was just in that area yesterday to do some errands. 

The fire reportedly broke out around 10pm last night behind Nando's restaurant, an Afro-Portuguese chain that served flame-grilled chicken with a spicy sauce. The fire spread to the next door businesses called Deer Island Bakery and Yummy Yogurt, as well as Pho Tan Vietnamese Restaurant and Sandy Farm Market. They are located at 41st Avenue between East Boulevard and Maple Street.

The four businesses were torn down today

Periodically we would go to Sandy Farm Market for fruits and vegetables. It was a Korean-owned store and they closed on Sundays to go to church.

Not only were the businesses gutted, but also people who lived in four units above one of the buildings were homeless.

Fifty-five firefighters fought the three-alarm fire to get it under control. 

"At this time we can't say we don't know exactly where the fire started. There's so much damage right now... We'll be trying to ascertain the cause," said assistant fire chief Keith Stewart.

From photographs taken from the scene, it looks like Nando's has collapsed into itself, though Stewart has said at least the four businesses will have to be demolished, and an excavator was brought in Monday to take them down.

It's so tragic to hear about the fire -- which results in losses for business owners and people being out of work.