Police are asking the public to be vigilant after they doused the tenth blaze set in a vacant Vancouver home in the last month.
The fire began in the basement of a duplex on Cambie Street and West 63 Avenue around 8:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Crews managed to knock down the fire before it spread to the rest of the building – but they say they’re putting their lives on the line every time a fire like this one breaks out.
“There are hundreds of homes that are sitting empty, and we’re finding that homeless people are moving into them, they’re lighting fires to stay warm and the buildings are catching fire,” said Vancouver Fire Asst. Chief John Dennis, adding putting out vacant house fires has become a nightly routine.
“Firefighters are risking their lives to come out and put these fires out. They work hard, they’re professional, but every time they do they’re putting their lives at risk.”
There have been nearly 30 fires in vacant homes in the last year, and 10 vacant buildings in the last month.
Investigators are trying to determine who might be responsible and whether any of the fires may be connected.
Last week, Vancouver police appealed to the public for help identifying potential firebugs.
Anyone who may have information on any of the fires is asked to call the VPD at 604-717-0605.
With files from CTV Vancouver’s St. John Alexander
