Image: City of Vancouver / In a single 24-hour period this week, Vancouver Fire Rescue Service were dispatched to over a dozen intentionally set fires and on top of that, seven incidents of fire inside SRO (single-room occupancy) buildings.
Vancouver Fire Rescue Services
Vancouver firefighters confront over 12 intentional fires, 7 SRO fires – in 1 day
Nov 30, 2023 | 6:32 AM
VANCOUVER — In a single 24-hour period this week, Vancouver Fire Rescue Service were overwhelmed with over a dozen intentionally set fires and seven incidents of fire inside SRO (single-room occupancy) buildings.
According to a news release from the City of Vancouver, firefighters responded to 22 fire calls in the city from Tuesday, Nov. 28 to Wednesday, Nov. 29. There were 2 injuries reported as a result. One individual in the 300 block of East Broadway Street sustained 14 per cent burns, and a separate event in the 400 block of Reid Street involved an individual who had burns to their hands.
Of the 22 fires:
- 7 of the calls were to SRO buildings involving smoking, lighters, e-bike rechargeable batteries and cooking.
- 9 fires where rubbish was intentionally set on fire
- 4 dumpsters intentionally set on fire
