Vancouver police have dispatched officers to a tent encampment on the city’s Downtown Eastside with the aim of shutting down the site to campers.
The City of Vancouver says it has asked police to help bring a close to the encampment, removing all remaining tents and structures.
It says in a statement that it decided to act due to “the growing public safety risk” posed by the encampment on East Hastings Street.
It says more than 400 outdoor fires have occurred over the last eight months and four people have been injured this year.
“The persistent fire risk posed by the encampment and recent fires in neighbouring buildings has made the situation on East Hastings even more precarious. Fires are occurring too regularly in the area and with escalating intensity due to an accumulation of materials and propane tanks,” the statement says….