Capt. Jonathan Gormick, public information officer with Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services, speaks to the media Feb. 1. Photo Jessica Kerr
A neighbour made a “valiant attempt” to save the life of an elderly woman Wednesday night after a fire broke out in her Yaletown apartment.
Vancouver firefighters were called to the eighth-floor suite in a building in the 1000-block of Marinaside Crescent at around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday.
A resident had noticed a neighbour’s smoke alarm going off, had a key and attempted to enter the suite but had to turn back due to the thick smoke and flames, said Capt. Jonathan Gormick, Vancouver Fire and Rescue public information officer.
“That neighbour was extremely courageous in attempting to access the suite and when they were turned back they did absolutely the right thing by closing the suite door,” Gormick said, adding that the neighbour has been referred to Vancouver’s emergency social services for counselling “after what was a valiant attempt at saving a life.”
Fire crews located the lone occupant of the suite, a woman in her 80s, dead. Gormick said it’s still unclear if the woman was unconscious before the fire started, possibly due to a medical condition, or if she was overcome by the smoke. He said an autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death.
The smoke alarm and sprinkler system were both functioning and activated when fire crews arrived.
“Fire investigators have determined the cause of the fire was completely accidental and was most likely due to incense or a candle,” Gormick said.
He said the fire and the resulting damaged were contained to the one suite.
“We can’t overemphasize, if someone has a fire in their building, if they need to leave their suite before they call 911 to close the door,” Gormick said. “That’s part of the compartmentalization of modern buildings, and that will stop the spread to any other suites.”
“While this is an extremely tragic event and deepest condolences go out to the family and the community effected by this, we are pleased to say that the life-saving systems in the building did work, did contain the fire to the suite of origin and did get the remaining occupants out of the building safely.”
