Vancouver fire reports increase in calls

Fire crews in Vancouver have responded to nearly 100 fire calls in the past seven days, according to the Vancouver Fire Rescue Services (VFRS).

In a tweet, the VFRS says that was a 14 per cent rise in calls compared with the previous week.

Firefighters responded to 99 fires (up 14%) and 243 overdoses (up 36%) this past week when compared to the previous. Two of the fires are suspicious and @VancouverPD investigating. pic.twitter.com/Hwm9vvt4dy

— Vancouver Fire Rescue Services (@VanFireRescue) March 27, 2023

Capt. Matt Trudeau tells CityNews that it hasn’t just been the last few weeks that’s been busy for fires.

“We are our busiest we’ve ever been with fire calls, and that’s structure fires, and fires with damage, and outdoor fires are. Our busiest year we’ve had was last year, and even this year, January and February, we’ve seen an increase in outdoor fires of almost 20 per cent when compared to last year — our busiest year for outdoor fires,” he said. “There’s quite a few of them and they’re still going on, and it’s for sure a concern.”

Trudeau says crews responded to three “significant fire incidents,” over the weekend, including Sunday’s fire in Chinatown.

Read more: Crews called to ‘suspicious fire’ in Chinatown

He adds that although crews were able to put out that fire “quickly,” he says they can spread fast.

“These outdoor fires can spread upwards on the walls [and] get into these buildings, and where these systems just aren’t designed for when they’re into the walls into the roofs in these concealed spaces. So with this one, thankfully, we were able to get there quickly, get the fire knocked down,” he said.

Read more: Crews fight East Hastings building fire

He says it was “a busy weekend with fire activity,” noting that one fire on East Hastings Street also left one firefighter minorly hurt.

“We want to get aggressive, and get inside and put out these fires. But understanding too that when these buildings do start collapsing, coming apart, or too hot and dangerous for our crews, that they will back out and makes sure that our crews are safe,” he said.

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The VFRS says that two of the recent fires “are suspicious,” including the Chinatown fire with police and fire officials investigating.

“Overall…our investigators go out and we’ll go and just investigate for cause and origin. And when we have any indication from our crews from people on scene or investigators where there is suspicious activity or something just isn’t right there. We’re going to get our partners in VPD involved and get their arson group involved for continuing that investigation to ensure if there is something suspicious that they’re looking into the nature of what happened for sure.

-With files from Michael Williams and Robyn Crawford