Fatal fire in downtown Vancouver: Off-duty paramedic describes trying to save neighbour
Warning: this story contains details that some readers may find upsetting.
One person has died following a fire in Vancouver Friday.
Officials told CTV News that paramedics performed life-saving measures on the male of unknown age, but despite CPR, he could not be revived.
First responders said the fire was reported shortly before noon at the building on Hornby Street north of Pacific Street.
Emergency Health Services said several paramedics responded, but no one was taken to hospital. Fire crews said the male victim died.
Video posted on social media shows flames pouring from the balcony of a suite in the building.
Assistant Chief Richard Craven, of Vancouver Fire Rescue Service, told CTV News the fire was contained to a single suite on the seventh floor.
“Crews are up there right now looking to see what damage there is to other suites," Craven said. "But the fire was contained to that one suite only.”
The two-alarm blaze brought 60 firefighters to the scene and prompted the evacuation of the building, according to Craven.
While crews were battling the blaze, a woman allegedly snuck into one of their trucks and attempted to steal their belongings.
The Vancouver Police Department told CTV News firefighters caught the woman "rooting through their things."
"They took back what was theirs and handed her over to police," said VPD spokesperson Sgt. Steve Addison in an email.
WITNESSES SAY THE VICTIM JUMPED
Gord Mafatow lives in the building where the fire occurred, next door to the unit where the fire apparently began.
He told CTV News he heard someone knocking on his door and yelling that there was a fire.
"I went and looked in the hallway and saw smoke coming from the unit next to mine," Mafatow said. "I tried knocking on the door and kicking it in because I had a fire extinguisher in my unit. And then couldn’t do it so I went back into my unit and called 911."
An off-duty paramedic, Mafatow said he heard glass breaking as he quickly made his way out of the building.
“I went into the back courtyard and I saw the gentleman that was in the unit," Mafatow said. "I guess he jumped. So I went up to him and my paramedic training kicked in.”
Another witness described hearing calls for help coming from the unit where the fire was burning, and CTV News has seen video of a person falling from the balcony.
Mafatow said he and other responders tried their best to save the man, but were unable to do so.
Though the victim was his neighbour, Mafatow said he didn't know the deceased man personally.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada, G7 urge 'all parties' to de-escalate in growing Mideast conflict
Canada called for "all parties" to de-escalate rising tensions in the Mideast following an apparent Israeli drone attack against Iran overnight.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
Taylor Swift drops 15 new songs on double album, 'The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology'
On Friday, the pop star released her 11th album and at 2 a.m. Eastern, she released "The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology," featuring 15 additional songs.
Israel gave U.S. last-minute warning about drone attack on Iran, Italian foreign minister says at G7
The United States told the Group of Seven foreign ministers on Friday that it received 'last minute' information from Israel about a drone action in Iran, but didn't participate in the apparent attack, officials said.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.