Old Hastings bowling alley destroyed in blaze

A three-alarm fire early Thursday destroyed a former bowling alley in Burnaby.

Firefighters battled the blaze in the old, abandoned wood and brick building on the 4400 block of Hastings Street near Willingdon Avenue.

As of 7:30 a.m. PT, fire crews had the blaze out, a fire official said. The roof of the building and several walls had collapsed and fire crews were continuing to pour water inside the structure.

Fire officials say they suspect the fire may have started before 1 a.m. on the second floor of the old Hastings bowling alley.

The derelict structure had been boarded up for some time and was scheduled to be demolished, but fire officials say homeless people were known to sleep inside. There are no reports of people inside during the fire.

Neighbouring businesses were affected by the intense smoke. One cat was removed from the North Burnaby Pet Hospital.

Traffic on Hastings Street between Rosser Avenue and Willingdon Avenue was being diverted around the area at 6:30 a.m. PT.