Video surveillance inside the Winters Hotel shows man trying to put out fire
Surveillance video taken inside Vancouver's Winters Hotel that shows a man trying to put out a growing fire unsuccessfully, was one of several videos presented to the jury Monday at the coroner’s inquest into the deaths of residents Mary Ann Garlow and Dennis Guay.
Time stamped April 11, 2022, the images show flames falling from the ceiling and landing on the first floor.
Seconds later, a man can be seen facing the fire, and then a quick burst of suppressant is visible coming from the canister he's holding.
He leaves briefly and then tries again, but without success, as more flames fell from above.
With smoke filling the air, another man with a cloth covering his mouth is shown knocking on hallway doors.
The jury heard testimony that the fire extinguishers in the Winters Hotel were empty, and that the sprinklers had been turned off following an earlier fire.
Another camera captured what transpired at the same time in the lobby.
A man appears to be motioning for people to hurry up and leave the building.
Residents can be seen carrying bags, and some had pets under their arms.
A captain from Vancouver Fire Rescue Services described the hotel as a very old building completed in the 1900s with none of today’s safety codes, which allowed the flames to spread rapidly.
“There are other buildings that have way more fires than the Winters Hotel, and they haven’t burnt down,” Capt. Cliff Lee told the jury.
His testimony was followed up by Deputy Chief Rob Renning, who admitted to be concerned about several of the old single-room occupancy buildings, or SROs, in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
“In my opinion they are very unsafe, they shouldn't be used for what they’re used for,” he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Live U.S. election results: Canadian perspectives and analysis
CTVNews.ca is featuring live U.S. election results on an interactive map and a live blog that will be updated throughout the evening starting at 5 p.m. ET by CTV News journalists and Washington political analyst Eric Ham.
A sharply divided America decides between Trump and Harris
A divided America weighed a stark choice for the nation's future Tuesday as a presidential campaign marked by upheaval and rancor approached its finale.
These swing states will likely decide the U.S. presidential election
These swing states will most likely determine the path to the presidency, with candidates needing to win some combination of votes to get them across the 270 mark to secure a majority.
An hour-by-hour guide to election night poll closings
This is a guide to poll closing times and includes notable down ballot races – both competitive and not.
Abortion is on the ballot in nine states and motivating voters across the U.S.
Voters in nine states are deciding whether their state constitutions should guarantee a right to abortion, weighing ballot measures that are expected to spur turnout for a range of crucial races.
How exit polls work and what they will tell us on election night
Exit polls are a set of surveys that ask voters whom they voted for, as well as additional questions about their political opinions, the factors they considered in the election and their own backgrounds more broadly.
Trump snaps at reporter when asked about abortion: 'Stop talking about that'
Donald Trump is refusing to say how he voted on Florida's abortion measure -- and getting testy about it.
Canada 'deeply concerned' after alleged Russian sabotage plot
The Canadian government says it has raised concerns directly with Russian officials after media reports this week revealed an alleged Russian sabotage operation. The alleged plot included plans to send parcels packed with incendiary devices aboard aircraft destined for Canada and the United States.
Suspect seen shooting man during Toronto-area home invasion in new video
Police have released video footage that appears to show a suspect shooting a man who had attempted to intervene in a home invasion in York Region on Monday night.