Sprinklers turned off at Winters Hotel days before devastating fire: investigation

A preliminary investigation has found the sprinkler system at the Winters Hotel in Vancouver’s Gastown neighbourhood had been turned off days before the devastating fire that rendered the entire building unsafe and set for demolition.

Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services says its early probe points to unattended candles as the cause of the April 11 fire. Crews say it started in a second floor unit and is being deemed accidental.

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It was first detected by “supervisory staff conducting a fire watch,” according to VFRS, which notes the sprinkler system had been turned off by firefighters after a blaze just days before, on April 8, set it off.

A Notice of Violation was issued at the time of the first fire, with orders “to have the fire life safety systems to be serviced.”

“This notice requires a fire watch be put in place until the fire life safety system is back in operations. The notice of violation is a standard process when a sprinkler is activated,” VFRS says in a release.

However, by April 11, the sprinkler system had not yet been fixed.

“[Supervisory staff conducting the fire watch] attempted to extinguish the fire but were unsuccessful in their efforts. They quickly transitioned to alerting the occupants in the building,” VFRS added of the Monday fire.

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• Winters Hotel to be demolished Wednesday after destructive fire

• Gastown building to be torn down following fire; 144 people displaced

Dozens of people were forced out of the building when flames erupted. Five people were taken to the hospital and fire crews say five residents were rescued.

Demolition of the building began Thursday after some delays. Work is expected to last into Friday and possibly Saturday.

In addition to the dozens of people displaced, many businesses in the area, including several in the building itself, have been affected.

-With files from Claire Fenton