Three family members in East Vancouver die, two others hospitalized after house fire
Posted January 30, 2022 9:13 am.
Last Updated January 31, 2022 10:58 pm.
A young child, mother and grandfather in East Vancouver have died and a father and grandmother are in hospital after a fire engulfed their home Sunday morning.
About 40 firefighters responded to a second alarm fire on East 41st Avenue and Earles Street, where a single-family home was engulfed in flames.
“When Vancouver Fire Rescue members arrived on scene, the basement suite at the detached home was fully involved in fire,” Vancouver Fire Rescue Services Chief Karen Fry.
Two adults were found outside the house and were transported to a hospital. The grandmother and father suffered smoke inhalation, but Fry adds that the father also had severe burns.
“Prior to transport, these individuals advised our crews that there were still two more adults and one child inside the burning home,” Fry explained.
According to crews, the fire had broken out of every window on the home.
“Our firefighters … were able to locate the three unaccounted for individuals and bring them out from the fire,” the fire chief added.
Despite fire crews’ efforts to resuscitate the three, they were all pronounced deceased at the scene.
“The fire was incredibly extensive and devastating.”
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Mansour Garwish lives in the neighbourhood and told CityNews he woke up around 8 a.m. because of the firefighters’ trucks arriving.
When he went outside to see what was happening nearby, he says, “That was a terrifying moment.”
“A neighbour told me that there was a person from that house just screaming to help us early in the morning,” he says. “I was just shocked.”
According to Fry, crews are still investigating what started the fire and whether or not the home’s smoke alarms were working or not.
Based on preliminary findings, Fry says it does not appear to indicate anything suspicious.
“It’s a really good time to remind everybody in our communities the importance of working smoke alarms.
“Batteries should be replaced twice a year, and smoke alarms need to be replaced every 10 years at the maximum … Check your dates. If it’s older than 10 years, please have it replaced immediately.”
If your home has sprinklers, Fry says to make sure that they’re tested or serviced annually.
“Also, when you’re sleeping, in order to limit the spread of fire, sleep with your bedroom door shut and keep your door shut in your rooms. It limits the spread of fire … it will then protect you in that room for much longer and keep the smoke and fire from travelling — as well if it starts within an enclosed room, it gives the opportunity for us to get on scene quicker in order to be able to save lives.”
As of 5 p.m. Sunday, traffic is moving in a single lane from Earles Street between Rupert Street and Victoria Drive.
With files from Crystal Laderas
