Tent goes up in flames after fire sparked at Oppenheimer Park
Posted March 4, 2020 9:01 am.
Last Updated March 4, 2020 9:02 am.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – A carelessly discarded cigarette is likely to blame for an overnight fire at Oppenheimer Park.
Firefighters were called to the park and its controversial encampment at around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday and arrived to find a tent fully engulfed in flames and smoke.
“There was actually nobody staying in the tent, but the tent was being used for storage,” Assistant Chief of Operations Trevor Connelly told NEWS 1130. “It was full of bikes and other stuff, as well as some dangerous stuff like aerosol cans and propane tanks.”
Firefighters were able to quickly put out the fire. No one was hurt.
“Obviously propane tanks and aerosol cans, like spray paint cans and stuff are very dangerous to anybody who’s around in a fire situation,” added Connelly.
Fire investigators were on scene Wednesday morning and determined the fire was most likely caused by a cigarette.
Oppenheimer Park is home to dozens of campers. The situation at the East Vancouver park has sparked concerns about safety over the last several months.
