Man dies in East Vancouver house fire on New Year’s Eve
Posted January 1, 2023 1:48 pm.
Last Updated January 3, 2023 8:39 pm.
A man in his 70s has died after a fire broke out at a home in East Vancouver on New Year’s Eve, officials from the Vancouver Fire Rescue Services (VFRS) said.
According to the VFRS, crews responded to a call to a home on Ormidale St. just before 9 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 31.
Incoming crew then discovered a blaze in a bedroom on the second floor of the two-storey home.
Home on Ormidale Street in Vancouver. (CityNews Image)
“Unfortunately this was a tragic event with one fire fatality – we lost a male occupant in his early 70s,” Vancouver Fire’s assistant chief Richard Warnock told CityNews. “There was another family member in the scene; she was out and was the one who called it in.”
VFRS would like to offer its condolences to family, friends and people impacted by the fire fatality last night on the 5500 BLK of Ormidale Street. We are reminding people to have a working smoke alarm and sleep with your doors closed.
— Vancouver Fire Rescue Services (@VanFireRescue) January 1, 2023
The source of the fire is not known at this time in the investigation, but according to Warnock, does not appear suspicious. “It also does not appear to have anything to do with fireworks, but they are investigating the incident,” he added.
The fire was contained to the bedroom, but the fire department says the home was damaged extensively from smoke and water.
In a tweet, VFRS offered their sympathies, reminding residents to make sure their smoke alarms are working, and to sleep with their doors closed.
