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
NEW Toxic forever chemicals in drinking water: Is Canada doing enough?
As the United States sets its first national limits on toxic forever chemicals in drinking water, researchers say Canada is lagging when it comes to regulations.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
How to avoid the trap of becoming 'house poor'
The journey to home ownership can be exciting, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew warns about the trappings of becoming 'house poor' -- where an overwhelming portion of your income is devoured by housing costs. Liew offers some practical strategies to maintain better financial health while owning a home.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Arrest made, manslaughter charge pending in 2022 death of Calgary toddler
Calgary police have arrested a man and a charge is pending in connection with the death of a toddler in 2022.
When new leaders took over in ancient Maya, they didn't just bury the former royals. They burned their bodies in public
New archeological investigations in Guatemala reveal that the ancient Maya people had a ritual of burning royal human remains as a public display of political regime change.
Where did the gold go? Crime expert weighs in on unfolding Pearson airport heist investigation
Almost 7,000 bars of pure gold were stolen from Pearson International Airport exactly one year ago during an elaborate heist, but so far only a tiny fraction of that stolen loot has been found.
Prince William returns to public duties after wife Kate's cancer revelation
Prince William will return to public duties on Thursday for the first time since his wife Kate revealed she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy for cancer.
Russia reports downing 5 Ukrainian military balloons in Kyiv's latest apparent war innovation
Russian air defences downed what authorities described as five Ukrainian balloons overnight, the defence ministry in Moscow said Thursday, as the sides kept up long-range strikes that have featured heavily in what has largely become a war of attrition.