Hastings Street in Burnaby reopens after early morning fire
Hastings Golf Centre Fire caused commuter chaos along Hastings at Sperling Avenue
Hastings Street in Burnaby has reopened after a major fire at an abandoned golf facility led to commuter chaos Monday morning.
The main thoroughfare was shut down for approximately three hours between Sperling Avenue and Fell Avenue due to the fire at the abandoned Hastings Golf Centre and Driving Range.
Nearly three dozen firefighters and ten fire trucks were called to the site in the early morning hours.
David Graystone, Burnaby Asst. Fire Chief, said Monday crews arrived to a fully involved fire with flames as high as 30 metres.
"It's very suspicious in nature," Graystone told CBC News. "It's a wood framed building and it was burning very fast."
Graystone said a homeless man first noticed the fire and alerted a bus driver on Hastings Street. The bus driver then called 9-1-1 on his cell phone.
The fire is now under control but crews remain on scene to put out hotspots. Greystone said cell towers in the area are secure and have not been affected.
The golf centre is located just a few blocks from an oil distribution facility. No one was injured.