A fire near Gilmore SkyTrain Station in Burnaby, British Columbia, forced three Millennium Line stations to close Wednesday morning, November 4, 2026, disrupting travel between Burnaby and Vancouver during the morning commute.
TransLink suspended service at Gilmore Station at 5:50 a.m. Pacific Time after heavy smoke was reported. Gilmore, Brentwood Town Centre and Rupert stations were temporarily closed, with replacement buses deployed to help stranded passengers continue their journeys.
The transit authority said the affected infrastructure was undergoing safety inspections. No reopening time was confirmed in the initial reports, while the cause of the fire and extent of any damage remained unclear.
Fire Near Gilmore Station Shuts Three SkyTrain Stations
The incident occurred near Gilmore Station, an elevated stop serving Burnaby’s busy Brentwood neighbourhood.
TransLink initially reported heavy smoke at the station before confirming that the disruption affected three Millennium Line stations.
- Gilmore Station: Closed following reports of fire and heavy smoke.
- Brentwood Town Centre: Temporarily closed during the disruption.
- Rupert Station: Closed, affecting travel toward Vancouver.
The closures interrupted a key section of the Millennium Line connecting residential neighbourhoods, workplaces and commercial districts.
Replacement Buses Operating Between Affected Stations
TransLink introduced a bus bridge to transport passengers around the closed section.
- Eastbound passengers: Transfer to replacement buses at Renfrew Station.
- Westbound passengers: Transfer to replacement buses at Holdom Station.
- Additional assistance: Extra buses and staff were deployed at Holdom, Brentwood, Gilmore, Rupert and Renfrew.
Passengers travelling through the affected corridor were advised to allow additional time, as replacement buses may take longer than regular SkyTrain services.
Morning Commuters Report Long Delays
The disruption began shortly before 6 a.m., affecting passengers heading to work, school and other destinations across Metro Vancouver.
Daily Hive reported that a passenger arriving at Holdom Station around 6:30 a.m. was still waiting for a replacement bus at 7:02 a.m.
The passenger estimated that roughly 2,000 people were waiting, although that figure was not independently verified or confirmed by TransLink.
A nearby resident also reported hearing alarms and crackling flames near Gilmore Station. The eyewitness account did not establish exactly what was burning.
The disruption highlights how quickly a localized transit emergency can affect journeys across a wider network.
Expo Line and Canada Line Remain Unaffected
TransLink confirmed that the Expo Line and Canada Line continued operating normally.
The fire did not cause a system-wide SkyTrain shutdown, although passengers transferring onto the affected Millennium Line section still faced interruptions.
Unexpected safety incidents can affect transport networks beyond their immediate location, as seen during the Jersey Airport drone disruption, which affected passenger flights.
TransLink Investigates Fire and Infrastructure Damage
TransLink spokesperson Dan Mountain said the transit authority was conducting a thorough investigation of the affected infrastructure.
Officials said the stations would reopen once inspections were completed and the infrastructure was cleared for operation.
The initial reports did not confirm whether anyone was injured or whether tracks, electrical equipment or station facilities sustained damage.
Gilmore Station has separately been undergoing an escalator replacement project since July 2026. There is no confirmed connection between that work and Wednesday’s fire.
Infrastructure-related disruptions can also affect essential city services, as illustrated by the recent Washington, D.C., power outage, which interrupted electricity supplies and traffic signals.
Burnaby SkyTrain Fire Timeline: November 4
- 5:50 a.m. PT: Millennium Line service suspended at Gilmore Station.
- Wednesday morning: Gilmore, Brentwood and Rupert stations confirmed temporarily closed.
- Morning commute: Replacement buses and additional transit staff deployed.
- Following the closures: TransLink began infrastructure inspections before reopening the affected stations.
Gilmore SkyTrain Station Reopening Updates
TransLink did not announce a confirmed reopening time in the initial November 4 reports.
Passengers should check TransLink’s official service alerts for current station closures, replacement bus routes and service restoration notices.
Travellers heading through Burnaby should verify their routes before departure and allow extra time if replacement buses remain in operation.
Further official updates are needed to determine the cause of the fire, the extent of any infrastructure damage and when normal service was fully restored.
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