Ten individuals have been displaced after a fire was intentionally set in a single-room occupancy (SRO) building in Vancouver, according to officials.
The incident occurred on Monday evening at the SRO located on East Hastings Street near Main Street. Vancouver Fire Rescue Services (VFRS) responded to the scene and quickly extinguished the fire, which was contained to one unit on the third floor.
According to VFRS, the fire was intentionally set and is being investigated as arson. The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) has taken over the investigation and is working to determine the cause of the fire.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported as a result of the fire. However, ten residents of the SRO have been displaced and are receiving assistance from the City of Vancouver’s Emergency Social Services team.
The SRO, which provides affordable housing for low-income individuals, has been deemed uninhabitable due to the damage caused by the fire. The City of Vancouver is working to find alternative housing for the displaced residents.
This incident highlights the vulnerability of those living in SROs and the importance of fire safety measures in these types of buildings. The City of Vancouver has been working to improve fire safety in SROs, including implementing a new bylaw that requires all SROs to have working smoke alarms and fire extinguishers.
Anyone with information about the fire is urged to contact the VPD’s Arson Unit or Crime Stoppers. The investigation is ongoing and updates will be provided as they become available.
In the meantime, the City of Vancouver is reminding residents to always be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.
