Vancouver: A four-alarm chemical fire in shipping containers at Port Metro Vancouver caused a container terminal to be evacuated on Wednesday afternoon.
A cloud of white smoke came off a group of containers in the Centerm terminal and drifted over the city, leading authorities to deem it a Hazmat incident and advise nearby residents to shut their windows and remain indoors. Surrounding rail lines and roads were closed.
At least nine fire engines and more than 30 firefighters tackled the incident at Canada’s biggest port.
Hospital emergency departments were on standby but by late afternoon there were no reported injuries.
Port Metro Vancouver spokesman John Parker-Jervis said in a statement that terminal operations were “shut down and employees have been evacuated.”
The city’s health authority confirmed the fire involved a substance called trichloroisocyanuric acid, an industrial disinfectant and bleaching agent which can be harmful if inhaled in large quantities and can cause eye irritation.
