Major fire at Port Metro

Sections of Port Metro Vancouver have been evacuated and nearby streets are shut down due to a major fire in a container terminal in the city's downtown.

Capt. Carol Messenger of the city's fire department says at least eight fire trucks and more than two dozen firefighters have responded to the three-alarm blaze, with more on the way.

Messenger says a hazardous materials team has also been dispatched as a precaution, but she says fire officials still don't know what's burning. Part of the port was evacuated.

David Porter works across from the fire on Alexander Street. His office decided to close as a precaution once they noticed the smoke.

“We saw the smoke and wondered what was going on,” Porter tells Castanet. “I almost didn't think it was a fire because it was this white-ish smoke.”

He says they were told to close all the windows and avoid spending time outside so he went straight to his car to head home.

“You could smell something was a bit off but nothing you would be concerned about,” adds Porter who says the plume of smoke covered the entire crane.

As he drove east he says the smoke plume extended all the way to the Second Narrows Bridge.  

Photos from the scene show large clouds of grey smoke billowing from the terminal and drifting over sections of downtown Vancouver.

Port Metro spokesman John Parker-Jervis says the fire is located in the Centerm container terminal.

Downtown Eastside residents are being told to go inside their homes and close their windows because of the potentially harzardous fumes. 

“Downtown Eastside: Go inside, close windows, shelter in place,” the City of Vancouver tweeted.

The 700 block of Centennial Road and Clark Drive overpass were evacuated and CP also shut down its nearby rail line.

– with files from CTV Vancouver