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Trestle bridge fire causes air quality alert in Metro Vancouver

People watch and photograph a dock ablaze in Richmond B.C., on Thursday, June 20, 2024. Photo by The Canadian Press/Ethan Cairns

Metro Vancouver Regional District has issued an Air Quality Bulletin after a large industrial fire broke out near River Rock Casino in Richmond.

Richmond Fire-Rescue says crews have extinguished the warehouse portion of the fire and are working to extinguish the trestle bridge that runs across the North arm of the Fraser River near the Oak Street Bridge, bordering Vancouver and Richmond.

Metro Vancouver says the fire is expected to be burning through Thursday night and into Friday.

Metro Vancouver is working with the Richmond Fire-Rescue, monitoring air quality data being received from air quality monitoring stations located throughout the region.

DriveBC says Oak Street Bridge is now open in both directions after being closed for several hours on Thursday night because of the fire.

Air quality bulletin issued for Metro Vancouver due to trestle bridge fire. #MetroVancouver #AirQuality #TrestleBridgeFire

Vancouver International Airport says operations are not impacted, but it encourages passengers to plan ahead and allow extra time to reach the airport.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 21, 2024.

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