Vancouver’s fire chief 'extremely frustrated' with daily fires on Downtown Eastside
After a large fire spread from tents to a shuttered theatre on the city’s Downtown Eastside, Vancouver’s fire chief told reporters she was “incredibly frustrated” that more isn’t being done to prevent daily fires breaking out in the area.
Karen Fry revealed that since last July when she ordered the clearing of tents and temporary structures that have increasingly taken up sidewalk space and blocked exits from buildings, there’ve been 360 fires outdoors in that area alone: on average, one and a half each day.
“The access to the buildings sometimes get cleared, and the next day you drive down and they're blocked again with new tents,” said Fry, who goes through the area herself nearly every day. “Too many lives are at risk here so we need to continue to remove stuff and to remove the tents and the city needs to do more.”
The Sunday evening fire badly damaged the Imperial Theatre, which has been closed for months. A fire hall is a block away and video of Sunday’s fire shows crews showed up within minutes of the flames breaking out and being witnessed by dozens.
Fire crews removed a hundred-pound propane tank and half a dozen BBQ-sized tanks from the scene, where they also found jerry cans full of gasoline. They say some of the explosions heard on the social media videos may have been from batteries.
Propane tanks have gone from being the occasional eyesore to a major concern for residents in other parts of the city, where encampments of various sizes show signs of fire and the metal tanks can be seen scattered or piled up nearby.
“We have homelessness and those sheltering outdoors across our city,” said Fry, acknowledging it’s a delicate balance to remove shelters people rely on in the name of safety. “It is a crisis, but the risks that we're seeing in the Downtown Eastside – specifically (East) Hastings Street and the area surrounding that – is untenable.”
CTV News tried to get an interview with Public Safety Minister, Mike Farnworth, to ask whether he’s considering a new strategy to house those without any other option or who’d rather live on the street than in dilapidated, vermin-infested social housing in the Downtown Eastside. https://bc.ctvnews.ca/150m-toward-texting-but-no-new-staff-in-b-c-funding-to-911-service-1.6294838
Instead, the a ministry spokesperson emailed a statement from the provincial Fire Commissioner Brian Godlonton, who wrote his office “has been working with fire departments, local governments, and other partners throughout the province to take meaningful action to effect change.”
He did not elaborate on how that was happening, but the ministry pointed to an effort by all levels of government to expand housing supply.
Fry pointed out homeless encampments and fires from heat sources are an issue across North America and acknowledges there are efforts underway to improve the situation, but that “it's not making enough of a difference” and the risk to everyone – campers, nearby residents, first respondres, passersby -- remains high.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.