Vancouver man, 34, dies in hospital days after apartment fire
A 34-year-old man that was seriously injured in a fire that broke out in a Vancouver apartment earlier this week has died, officials confirmed Wednesday.
The man was rushed to Vancouver General Hospital around 5 p.m. on Monday, after firefighters responded to a call at 600 East 6th Ave. in Mount Pleasant, according to Vancouver Fire Rescue Services.
“Upon arrival, firefighters found a male occupant of the building with serious burn injuries located outside of a unit which had a fire,” VFRS spokesperson Matthew Trudeau wrote in a statement.
The man died late Wednesday morning at Vancouver General Hospital, Trudeau confirmed by email.
VFRS said in a statement that the fire was caused by open flames, which “ignited combustibles and caused burn injures.”
Speaking to CTV News by phone Wednesday, Trudeau said the fire appeared to be mostly on clothing and bedding inside one unit.
“In buildings where we see lower income and more prevalent drug use, there seems to be a lot more disorder in the units,” Trudeau said, adding it’s believed the man was using drugs prior to the fire.
It broke out at Carolina Court, a building operated by BC Housing that is intended for low-income individuals and families.
Trudeau says he’s heard rumours that the deceased man was actually in his 50s, but says the fire chief on scene was told the victim was 34 years old.
He says two other individuals were around the unit at the time, and can’t confirm whether the man may have been using drugs alone.
Trudeau says most of the flames were doused by a working sprinkler system, and crews on scene dealt with remaining smouldering materials.
Smoke alarms in the unit were not functional at the time, according to the VFRS.
When asked about the smoke alarm, BC Housing told CTV News that the system was removed from the unit “without our knowledge or approval” prior to the fire.
In addition, the Crown corporation says the individual who died was not a registered tenant.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragic event. Our thoughts are with the loved ones of all involved, the residents of Carolina Court, and the frontline staff members and first responders who have worked hard to support all involved,” BC Housing wrote in a statement Wednesday.
Earlier this year, the organization launched a “Fire Reduction Working Group,” in order to address concerns over fire events at single-room-occupancy buildings and other projects, implement preventative measures and develop better response plans for staff.
BC Housing says the group is still in the information gathering and research stage.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
First court appearance for boy and girl charged in death of Halifax 16-year-old
A girl and a boy, both 14 years old, made their first appearance today in a Halifax courtroom, where they each face a second-degree murder charge in the stabbing death of a 16-year-old high school student.