Large fire breaks out near Oak Street Bridge in Richmond, B.C. ...

Thick black smoke billowed above Richmond after a fire broke out Thursday evening. 

Richmond Fire-Rescue said several trucks were dispatched to a fire near the Fraser River at about 8:15 p.m.

The Metro Vancouver Regional District said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that an old rail bridge caught fire and was causing black smoke. The district issued an air quality bulletin, asking anyone with shortness of breath, chest discomfort, severe coughing or dizziness to seek medical help. 

Pictures on social media show smoke emanating from a location near the River Rock Casino. 

Officials did not know the cause of the fire as of late Thursday. 

DriveBC said on X that the fire, near the Oak Street Bridge, affected traffic in both directions.

In a statement on X, Vancouver International Airport said its operations were not affected by the fire. 

Que Gardner, a visitor from Jacksonville, Florida, said he was in the casino when the fire broke out.

"Before I knew it, everything was on fire over here, and it slowly worked its way down," he said. He said he heard the tar on the rail bridge was burning, causing thick, black smoke. 

Jacob Joseph said he saw the fire from near Lansdowne Park. He cycled from his home nearby to see the source of the smoke.

"I'm shaken up,"  he said. "I've never seen anything like this in Richmond."