The roof and walls of several businesses collapsed as they were engulfed in fire. (Submitted by CBinVan)A fire destroyed several businesses near the intersection of Main Street and Broadway in Vancouver on Thursday morning, throwing flames 10 metres into the air, knocking out power and blocking traffic.

Assistant fire Chief Wade Pierlot said the fire spread quickly through common walls soon after it started at around 4 a.m. PT, and there was little firefighters could do to stop it from destroying the building.

'This building will likely be a total loss," —Assistant fire Chief Wade Pierlot

"We've had the whole building cave in, so this building will likely be a total loss," said Pierlot.

Witnesses reported seeing smoke above the Zocalo Mexican restaurant near the southwest corner of the intersection about 4 a.m. PT Thursday. But Pierlot said until an investigation is completed, it will be impossible to say where the fire may have started and how.

Flames from the fire shot 10 metres into the air as firefighters fought to get it under control. (CBC)"These buildings have void spaces above them, they have drop ceilings. And it could have started somewhere else and ended up there. So until our investigation is complete, I can't really say one way or the other where the origin was," he said.

The flames quickly spread through at least four other businesses which appeared to be part of a single building, including Kishu Island sushi restaurant, Slickity Jim's Chat 'n' Chew restaurant, Lugz Coffee and an accounting business.

The fire was under control by 8 a.m. after crews from three fire stations used equipment from at least eight trucks to put it out, but the roof and the front of the building had collapsed in the blaze.

Power and traffic lights knocked out

No injuries were reported, but several dozen residents were evacuated from a nearby four-storey apartment block as a precautionary measure. An old CIBC bank building on the corner appeared to have been at least partially saved.

Just before 7 a.m., electrical power went out for 2,200 customers in the surrounding area and to traffic lights for several blocks around the blaze. Power was later restored.

Firefighters from three stations battled the blaze at the intersection of Main Street and Broadway on Thursday morning. (CBC)

The fire was also blocking traffic for several blocks around Main Street and Broadway, and bus routes along both streets were affected. Just after 8:20 a.m. one lane was opened along Broadway for buses.

Firefighters said they expected the mop-up operation to interrupt traffic for hours.