Downtown Eastside tent fire leaves building with ‘extensive water damage’
Posted March 19, 2023 9:25 pm.
Last Updated March 20, 2023 11:43 am.
Vancouver Fire Rescue Services says it was called to a blaze in the Downtown Eastside Sunday evening.
Assistant Fire Chief Jarret Gray says the fire started in two to three tents just outside a concert venue, the Imperial building, on Main Street.
“The fire did not get into the building but activated the sprinklers, caused water and damage happened inside the building. Crews went inside, checked the sprinklers off. Extensive water damage to the inside of the building.”
Crews say they found eight propane tanks around the tents but managed to pull them away from the scene.
“The propane tanks’ pressure relieve valve was activated due to the extreme heat. They pulled all the tanks away from the fires and let the release valves cool,” Gray said.
Gray adds no one was injured and no one has claimed to own the tents.
Fire Chief Karen Fry took to social media saying, “This is not a safe environment for the residents in the area, those living in the tents, and the responders.”
A tent fire in the #DTES has spread to a building.
Multiple propane tanks on site.
This is not a safe environment for the residents in the area, those living in the tents and the responders.@VanFireRescue @IAFF18 pic.twitter.com/lSDtR2vtnY
— Karen Fry (@Karen_Fry) March 20, 2023
One lane near the area on Main Street was closed to traffic as crews continued to investigate the cause of the fire. It has since reopened.
