Vancouver fire chief orders immediate removal of tents along East Hastings Street

Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services (VFRS) Chief Karen Fry issued a structure removal order Monday as fears grow over safety concerns due to tents and other structures along East Hastings Street in the Downtown Eastside.

In the order, Fry signaled the urgent need to accelerate the removal, saying that “should a fire occur in the area in its current condition, it would be catastrophic, putting lives at risk and jeopardizing hundreds of units of much-needed housing,” according to the City of Vancouver.

In a statement released Monday afternoon, the city said it acknowledges that since the start of July, the “situation” along East Hastings Street and Main Street in the DTES “has grown significantly more unsafe due in part to increased structures and decreased accessibility.”

Related Articles:

• Downtown Eastside community members creating block stewardship program

• Thousands raised for those affected by DTES fire in Vancouver

• Coroner’s inquest to look into deadly Winters Hotel fire in Vancouver

City crews have historically been accompanied by Vancouver Police Department officers when removing garbage and structures along the thoroughfare. However, as of July 1, in response to calls from DTES residents, “street sweeps” were ceased by police.

“Structures-removal planning had been underway to increase street safety, passage for sidewalks and roadways, increase access to buildings and reduce fire hazards. While today’s order will expedite this process, the situation is complex and the city will continue to take a thoughtful approach that considers the needs of those sheltering outdoors as we do this work,” the city wrote.

The city said in the coming days it will be working with community, non-profit, and other partner government organizations to fasten structure removal and offer additional supports for houseless folks sheltering outdoors.

“Supports will include day storage of personal belongings, and increasing public washrooms, misting stations, handwashing stations and water fountains in the area,” the city said.

“The conditions in the DTES are representative of a systemic failure to meet the needs of low-income, marginalized residents and communities, a crisis requiring urgent cooperation of all levels of government. The City has and will continue to advocate to senior government partners who have the jurisdiction, funding and responsibility for meaningful, life-changing interventions that are needed to address the key drivers of homelessness, including faster delivery of housing and emergency shelter, income and mental health supports, and additional service supports for people sheltering outdoors.”

In a statement, Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart said that while he supports the chief’s decision, he realizes the stress and difficulty this order will cause those living in the area.

“My top priority is the safety and security of all Vancouver residents, especially vulnerable neighbours,” he wrote in a statement Monday. “Over the past four years, we have secured funding to build the housing and services we need to reduce homelessness and support those suffering with mental health and addictions issues.”

“Despite these investments and effort, it is clear that demand for high quality, supportive housing still outstrips supply – especially during hot summer days when many residents cannot live safely inside SROs with poor ventilation,” Kennedy added.

The order from VFRS comes as East Vancouver has been hit particularly hard by structure fires of late. Two people were killed April 11 at the Winter’s hotel in Gastown, leaving another 144 displaced; one person was killed June 11 after a fire at the Hotel Empress, an SRO on East Hastings Street; and a large fire at the Vancouver Street Church July 6 flattened the community hub and forced the evacuation of 80 people in nearby housing.