A downtown Vancouver building was evacuated June 11 after a fire worsened by hoarding conditions and a poor sprinkler system sent two people to hospital.
Firefighters were called to a five-storey supportive housing building on the 1100-block of Granville Street for a fire alarm mid-afternoon.
Investigators determined the cause of the fire was accidental in nature, caused by a locking butane torch.
Crews quickly made their way to the floor for fire control and search operations.
However, hoarding conditions, challenges with water supply inside the building and people refusing to leave made fire suppression and search operations tough for crews, a department spokesperson said.
“Firefighters getting on scene quickly and working hard to overcome these challenges, contained the fire to the single unit, preventing fire spreading to the roof and to multiple units,” Matthew Trudeau with Vancouver Fire Rescue Services said.
As a result of the fire, two people went to hospital with smoke inhalation.
Due to safety concerns inside the building, all residents were displaced from the building overnight.
Social services staff were on scene to support residents and find them alternative accommodations.
