Yet another driver ignores barriers, drives over fire hose in Vancouver

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Crews put out a warning earlier this year, but it seems it may have fallen on deaf ears. Vancouver Fire and Rescue says for the third time in a year, someone has driven past a fire line and over a hose at the scene of an active fire.

It happened early Thursday morning while crews were dealing with a structure fire on E. Hastings St near Victoria Dr.

“The driver of the vehicle proceeded through the fire line tape and overtop of a [fire hose],” said Capt. Jonathan Gormick. “There were cones. There was tape. But somebody still decided to proceed through.”

RELATED: Driver ignores yellow tape as crews tackle massive fire, damages hose

The hose didn’t burst, like it did back in April, in a case where there was about $1,000 worth of damage to the equipment.

“But that doesn’t mean it’s not dangerous,” said Gormick. “That doesn’t mean it’s not illegal. And that doesn’t mean the hose doesn’t have to be taken out of service, tested, and most likely retired from service.”

Gormick said the hoses cost several thousand dollars. “It’s a considerable dent in our budget.”

He added the hose is five inches in diameter and bright yellow. “If you miss the cones and the tape, it’s hard to imagine that you could miss that in the centre of the road.”

“It could put them in grave danger”

Thursday morning’s fire started in several dumpsters and extended to some of the siding of the building. Gormick said it did not spread to the inside of the building. The fire is still under investigation.

On April 26, 2018, crews were mopping up the scene on E. Pender St. near Clark Dr., following a three-alarm fire at Metropolitan Fine Printers. That’s when a man drove past the cones and yellow tape, and drove through the scene. The driver ran over a fire hose, causing about $1,000 worth of damage.

“The other one was in January, when the driver drove over the hose, snagged it, and swept the firefighter off his feet. He’s still recovering from his injuries,” said Gormick.

That firefighter has severe damage to his knee.

Aside from being illegal, disobeying the cones and tape puts crews in a lot of danger.

“Any fire scene could be relying on that water supply to protect their lives or protect the lives of people they’re trying to rescue from inside the fire. If that hose would have burst — like it did the last time this happened — that could interrupt the water supply and put them in absolutely grave danger,” said Gormick.

Gormick is surprised this has happened three times in just a year. “Usually, this happens once every couple of years.”

He’s not sure what else the fire department can do to prevent this from happening.

“I’ve even seen people drive right through the wooden sawhorse barriers. I don’t think any type of barrier is going to work. It’s education that this isn’t just a speedbump and can definitely put lives at risk.”

“It blows my mind”

He says the whole situation is frustrating. “It’s illegal… There’s most likely an easier way around — a short detour to get where you’re going. I get that people may not understand the danger to the crews inside or to anybody inside the building that this might cause — that’s definitely what we’re trying to communicate. But it blows my mind why even anyone would put their vehicle at risk by driving over a rock-hard five-inch high firehose.”

Crews at the scene on Thursday were able to jot down the vehicle’s license plate number. Gormick said that information was sent to the police.

“I anticipate the VPD will be in touch with the registered owner fairly shortly.”

 – With files from Sonia Aslam