‘A shocking attack’: Woman set on fire on Downtown Eastside, VPD says
Posted July 27, 2022 10:30 am.
Last Updated July 28, 2022 10:08 am.
Vancouver police are investigating after a woman was allegedly set on fire in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside on Monday.
Police say a woman in her 50s was sitting on the sidewalk on the west side of Dunlevy Avenue near Powell Street around 1:30 a.m. when a man approached her.
“A stranger came up to her, poured a flammable substance on her head, and lit it on fire. The woman immediately ran to a nearby business to get help,” said a police statement.
Police say the woman was taken to the hospital with serious burn injuries.
“This was a shocking attack that targeted a vulnerable member of our community,” said Cst. Tania Visintin. “We need witnesses and anyone with information to call police and help solve this crime.”
Sarah Blyth, Downtown Eastside advocate, says the area’s at-risk population gets a lot of anger directed at them.
“The public sees them targets, as someone they can take their aggression out on. And I think it’s really up to the politicians and the media and everyone to bring attention to what they’re having to deal with on the day-to-day basis that it’s not easy,” said Blyth.
“I feel like with the serial arsonist situation, [at-risk] people are becoming more and more of a target,” she added.
#VPDNews: The #VPD is investigating after a woman was allegedly set on fire while sitting on a sidewalk on Dunlevy near Powell on July 25 around 1:30 a.m. Anyone with information is asked to call 604-717-2541 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. https://t.co/6vc9UQxM0d pic.twitter.com/dQRwqVn6YO
— Vancouver Police (@VancouverPD) July 27, 2022
Police say the suspect fled the area before officers arrived.
That same day, police were called by a man who said his homemade structure was set on fire near Columbia Street and West 5th Avenue, between 12:30 a.m. and 1:30 a.m.
“Investigators don’t believe the two incidents are connected,” added Visintin. “However, it is still very early in the investigation, so we are not ruling anything out.”
Both incidents remain under investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to call VPD’s Major Crime at 604-717-2541 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
