Port Metro Vancouver chemical fire is out, berm built

The four-alarm blaze that started at Port Metro Vancouverthecountry's busiest porton Wednesday is finally out.

The port, the fire department and other groups fully extinguished the fire around 8 pm more than 24 hours after the fire started.

Operations at the port resumed earlieron Thursday.

Vancouver Fire & Rescue Services has confirmed there is no further risk to the public.

Berm built

Crews and DP World Vancouver, the operators of Centerm container terminal, were waiting Thursday night for the container temperature to lower to a safe enough level to open the container.

To prevent any contaminant run-off into Burrard Inlet, a sand berm was set up around the container.

Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services and their hazmat consultants have advised that the risk is extremely low that the fire will reignite or that there will be any smoke during this operation, the port said in a statement.

Emergency

JohnParker-Jervis, a spokesman for Port Metro Vancouver,said the terminal was shut down and employeessent home yesterday.The blaze also forced hundreds of others to stay indoors for a few hours in the afternoon.

"This was the closest we have come to a major evacuation across part of our city in many, many years," said Penny Ballem, Vancouver city manager.

Vancouver Coastal Health saidtrichloroisocyanuricacid, a hazardous organic compound that can be used as an industrial disinfectant, fuelled the fireat the container terminal.

Health warnings

Health warnings were issued as the plume of smoke spread.

About 13 people were treatedin emergency departments for breathing problems and irritated eyes, said Dr. Meena Dawar, medical health officer with Vancouver Coastal Health.

Now that the fire is out the port, which trades $187 billion in goods a year and handles thousands of containers of hazardous materials, can review how the incident was handled.

"We are really pleased with how that unfolded," said Peter Xotta, vice president of planning and operations at the port.

"We will take back evidence of where there are communication improvement opportunities and we will be debriefing with the city and other agencies to make sure we are in the best possible position going forward," Xotta said.