Firefighters are on scene at a Burnaby hookah lounge that sustained “extensive damage” from a fire that broke out early Monday morning.
Crews were called to a strip mall at 6th Street and 12th Avenue just after 5:30 a.m., according to assistant fire Chief Dave Younger.
When they arrived, smoke was showing from the Arwaz Hookah Lounge in the corner of the L-shaped building, Younger said.
“It was actively burning inside. When we got there, it was spreading quickly to the adjoining units, and we cut that off and contained it to one unit,” he said.
Younger said the fire did “extensive damage” to the hookah lounge, and at least three other units, including the Generation Pharmacy and the not-for-profit Quest Food Exchange, sustained extensive smoke damage.
“Most of their product will have to be thrown away,” he said.
The fire started in a kitchen area at the back of the hookah lounge, but the official cause has not yet been determined, according to Younger.
Police closed off 6th Street in both directions as fire crews fought the blaze.
At about 8:30 a.m., Younger said crews would likely be on scene for at least another hour.
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