|
|
|
|
|
4 August 2023
|
70 people displaced after fire destroys Vancouver apartment building, fire fighter injured, British Columbia
|
|
|
More than 70 people were displaced and five were sent to hospital as the result of a fire that destroyed an apartment building in Vancouver's Mount Pleasant neighbourhood on Thursday, 27 July 2023. Vancouver Fire Rescue Services (VFRS) says the fire began at an older, three-storey apartment building at 414 East 10 Avenue around 20h30 PT. As soon as crews arrived, they began rescuing people from balconies on the third floor of the building.
Fire fighters tried to fight the fire from inside the building but in a statement the fire department said intense heat and deteriorating conditions forced them to fight the fire outside.
More than 70 fire fighters were called to the fire. Vancouver Fire Rescue Services Fire Chief Karen Fry said the building is likely ruined. "It appears at this time it's going to be completely destroyed or uninhabitable ; at this time, there's no chance of [residents] being able to go back into their homes," Chief Fry said. "It was a pretty devastating fire."
The fire service said all residents from the building have been accounted for. British Columbia Emergency Health Services confirmed five people were taken to hospital, including one fire fighter who had non-life-threatening injuries.
Chief Fry said the fire fighter has since been released from hospital. Several other crew members were treated for heat exhaustion at the scene of the fire. Fire fighters also saved a number of pets, Chief Fry said.
Emergency Support Services and the Red Cross are helping residents find shelter and providing assistance, according to VFRS. Officials did not provide the condition of the other patients.
'Chaotic scene'
Chief Fry said it appeared flames might have broken out in a suite that had "a heavy load of combustible materials" inside.
"We had harder access trying to get into that unit to extinguish the fire," said Chief Fry. "It was a pretty chaotic scene, from what I understand. It was heavy smoke conditions throughout the building and the neighbourhood. The fire shortly thereafter, probably within the first 30 minutes to an hour, broke through the roof of the building."
Mount Pleasant is a largely residential neighbourhood southeast of Vancouver's downtown core.
More than 2 000 British Columbia Hydro customers in the neighbourhood were without power overnight because of the fire but electricity was restored Friday morning.
20 fire safety violations alleged
The owners of a Vancouver apartment building that was destroyed by flames are currently involved in court proceedings related to allegations they violated 20 separate fire safety regulations last year, according to records.
Fu Ren and Feng Yan own the building at 414 East 10th Avenue, where 70 tenants were living when the fire broke out on 27 July 2023. The building is now uninhabitable, leaving all of the residents effectively homeless.
Online court records show that Ren and Yan are facing 20 "federal contravention violations tickets" and are next due in court on 15 August 2023, to fix a date for trial.
Among the "offences" listed are "activity creating life safety concerns" and allowing for an "accumulation of combustible materials." Other alleged violations relate to failing to have adequate fire alarms or extinguishers on site and blocking fire exits.
Sources: CBC News, CTV News
Fire fighters tried to fight the fire from inside the building but in a statement the fire department said intense heat and deteriorating conditions forced them to fight the fire outside.
More than 70 fire fighters were called to the fire. Vancouver Fire Rescue Services Fire Chief Karen Fry said the building is likely ruined. "It appears at this time it's going to be completely destroyed or uninhabitable ; at this time, there's no chance of [residents] being able to go back into their homes," Chief Fry said. "It was a pretty devastating fire."
The fire service said all residents from the building have been accounted for. British Columbia Emergency Health Services confirmed five people were taken to hospital, including one fire fighter who had non-life-threatening injuries.
Chief Fry said the fire fighter has since been released from hospital. Several other crew members were treated for heat exhaustion at the scene of the fire. Fire fighters also saved a number of pets, Chief Fry said.
Emergency Support Services and the Red Cross are helping residents find shelter and providing assistance, according to VFRS. Officials did not provide the condition of the other patients.
'Chaotic scene'
Chief Fry said it appeared flames might have broken out in a suite that had "a heavy load of combustible materials" inside.
"We had harder access trying to get into that unit to extinguish the fire," said Chief Fry. "It was a pretty chaotic scene, from what I understand. It was heavy smoke conditions throughout the building and the neighbourhood. The fire shortly thereafter, probably within the first 30 minutes to an hour, broke through the roof of the building."
Mount Pleasant is a largely residential neighbourhood southeast of Vancouver's downtown core.
More than 2 000 British Columbia Hydro customers in the neighbourhood were without power overnight because of the fire but electricity was restored Friday morning.
20 fire safety violations alleged
The owners of a Vancouver apartment building that was destroyed by flames are currently involved in court proceedings related to allegations they violated 20 separate fire safety regulations last year, according to records.
Fu Ren and Feng Yan own the building at 414 East 10th Avenue, where 70 tenants were living when the fire broke out on 27 July 2023. The building is now uninhabitable, leaving all of the residents effectively homeless.
Online court records show that Ren and Yan are facing 20 "federal contravention violations tickets" and are next due in court on 15 August 2023, to fix a date for trial.
Among the "offences" listed are "activity creating life safety concerns" and allowing for an "accumulation of combustible materials." Other alleged violations relate to failing to have adequate fire alarms or extinguishers on site and blocking fire exits.
Sources: CBC News, CTV News
|
|