British Columbia

Downtown Eastside Washington Hotel fire keeps crews busy

Vancouver firefighters spent a couple of hours last night battling a fire at the top of the Washington Hotel, a Downtown Eastside rooming house at 177 East Hastings Street.

A fire on the top floor of the Washington Hotel kept Vancouver firefighters busy last night

Vancouver firefighters are battling a stubborn fire at the top of the Washington Hotel, a Downtown Eastside rooming house at 177 East Hastings Street. (CBC)

Vancouver firefighters spent a couple of hours last night battling a fire at the top of the Washington Hotel, a Downtown Eastside rooming house at 177 East Hastings Street.

The area surrounding the Washington Hotel at 177 East Hastings has been closed to traffic. Motorists are advised to avoid the area. (CBC)

At the height of the fire, smoke could be seen pouring out of the hotel's top floor.

No word on what caused it. The building was undergoing renovations at the time. No one was hurt.

The area surrounding the 100 block of East Hastings was temporarily closed to traffic