Woman, dog rescued from North Vancouver apartment fire

At least one woman and her dog were plucked from the balcony of a North Vancouver apartment this morning by a firefighter just before the apartment burst into flames.

Smoke from the fire that started about 5 a.m. PT near St. Patrick's Avenue and East Second Street could be seen from downtown Vancouver after the fire broke out Monday morning.

It remains unclear how many people were rescued from the building, but several did call 911 saying they would be forced to jump off their balconies before firefighters arrived, North Shore Fire Chief Dan Pistilli told CBC.

"I woke up to a guy honking his horn and a woman screaming," said neighbour Alex Kerr, who tried to help two women screaming for help in their apartment. 

He and others trying could not get to the third floor where the elderly woman was desperately trying to save her dog.

"She was kind of freaking out. That's why she was trying to throw her dog off," said Kerr.

Once firefighters arrived they were able to use a ladder to rescue the woman and her dog from a third floor balcony. 

At least two people were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation and there was extensive damage to the building, said firefighters.

The fire was still burning at 7:30 a.m. PT.

"It's all wood. It's pretty dangerous," said Alexander Tuchardt, a next door neighbour who says buildings are different where he's from in Germany.

More to come