One person is dead and two others were injured in a fire in a hotel room in Downtown Eastside, officials said early Saturday morning.
According to Vancouver rescue services, the fire broke out around 7 am on the second floor of the Empress Hotel on East Hastings Street, near Main Street.
More than 25 firefighters were needed to fight the blaze.
“The initial investigation by the Fire Investigation Branch mentioned that there was a battery overload that caused an explosion in (a) apartment.” said Chief Walter Pereira.
The damage to the building was inflicted on the single apartment.
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The man’s body was found in the alley next to the hotel.
Investigators said they were investigating whether he jumped or was thrown out of the building.
“It simply came to our notice then. He eventually came out of a second-floor window, Pereira told Global News on Saturday.
“He may have fallen or lost his footing and fallen out the window.”
A possible explosion of bicycle batteries is being investigated and the Vancouver Police Department has launched an investigation into the incident.
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