Man hanging outside 5th storey window during SRO fire rescued in Vancouver
A man was rescued from outside a fifth storey window of a single-room occupancy building in Vancouver Wednesday morning after emergency crews were called about a fire.
Capt. Matthew Trudeau, public information officer for Vancouver Fire Rescue Services, told CTV News its crews were called at 7:40 a.m. about a fire on Granville Street near Nelson Street.
When crews arrived, they saw heavy fire and smoke coming from the back of the building.
"Crews did go to the back and found a person from the fifth storey window needing imminent rescue so crews did bring a ladder at the back, extend it up to him and was able to rescue an individual in distress from that window," Trudeau said, adding it was "obviously a very challenging scene for that individual."
Trudeau said there was heavy smoke coming from the window that the man was hanging out of.
The man was taken to hospital with smoke inhalation and possibly other injuries, Trudeau said. At least one unit in the building has "significant damage" and others are being checked for possible fire, smoke or water damage.
"A sprinkler did activate … which definitely helped fire conditions inside for our crews and probably for the individual," Trudeau said.
Numerous fire calls
Trudeau said VFRS is called to that block of Granville Street – as well as the one next to it – "numerous times per day."
In this case, the cause of fire was "carelessly discarded smokers' materials," Trudeau said.
"We believe it is associated with a butane torch that was left on, directly associated with drug use," he said.
VFRS says smokers' materials are the number one cause of fires in the city. According to data from the agency, locking butane torches and open flames led to six fatalities between January 2023 and March 2024. As well, 79 injuries were reported and use of the devices led to more than 3,100 fires in that time period.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
Grayson Murray, two-time PGA Tour winner, dead at 30
Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial.
Family of toddler found dead at small-town Ont. daycare no closer to answers after year of investigation
A year has passed since two-year-old Vienna Irwin was found on the property of a home-based daycare in small-town Ontario, but her family says they are no closer to answers of what happened that day.
Fatal plane crash reported near Squamish, B.C.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has confirmed it is working with local Mounties and the BC Coroners Service after a plane crash near Squamish, B.C. Friday night.
Humboldt Broncos crash victims and families react to decision to deport truck driver
The family of one of the victims of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in 2018 says they are 'thankful' for a decision by a Calgary immigration board to deport the driver of the truck involved.
'God forgives but we don’t': Loud outburst from stabbing victim’s family during sentencing hearing
An emotional outburst in a London, Ont. courtroom Friday disrupted the sentencing hearing of a woman who pleaded guilty for her part in the death of 29-year-old Mohammed Abdallah.
Three dead after vehicle plunged down a 100-foot embankment in Shediac, N.B.
Three people have died after a vehicle veered off the road in Shediac N.B., Friday morning.
Chiefs' Harrison Butker has no regrets about expressing his beliefs in speech
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker has no regrets about expressing his beliefs in a recent commencement speech and he said he has received support as well as “a shocking level of hate” from others.
Community mourns victims of fatal boat crash near Kingston, Ont.
The three people killed in last weekend's tragic collision between a speedboat and a fishing boat north of Kingston are being remembered Friday.