Fire breaks out in Vancouver’s Strathcona Park; third in two weeks
Posted April 2, 2021 7:28 am.
Last Updated April 2, 2021 7:29 am.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – A fire broke out in Vancouver’s Strathcona Park Thursday for the third time in two weeks.
Vancouver Fire Rescue Services says no one was hurt and that the blaze was put out quickly.
It appears at least one tent was completely destroyed by the fire.
Video from the scene Thursday shows the tent completely engulfed in flames, with thick black smoke billowing into the air.
— Callum Snape (@CalSnape) April 2, 2021
In March, two separate fires also broke out in the park, where a large homeless encampment is located.
On March 20, crews were called after a structure went up in flames.
Several days later on March 26, another fire started, with crews saying they arrived to find a “fully-involved” tent.
Crews were able to put both of those fires out quickly, and no injuries were reported.
The tent city was set up in June of 2020 by people experiencing homelessness who were forced off a property next to CRAB Park on Vancouver’s waterfront. Those residents had earlier been forced out of Oppenheimer Park, which was shut down by the city and Park Board.
In mid February, the Vancouver Park Board began efforts to reclaim part of Strathcona Park, posting an order telling residents they had to clear out of the west side of the greenspace.
