SRO fire sends two to hospital in Vancouver’s Downtown

Two are in hospital and a nightclub is water-damaged after a fire tore through SRO housing on Vancouver's Granville strip.

Two people were sent to hospital to treat smoke inhalation after a fire broke out inside a social housing unit on the Granville strip in Vancouver.

Firefighters responded to the former Howard Johnson hotel, which is now a province-owned single-room occupancy building, at around 3:30 p.m.

The Vancouver Fire Rescue Services said the fire was contained due to the sparklers, but crews faced issues breaching the door due to “severe hoarding conditions” and a large number of combustibles inside.

“The fire was caused by butane torches used for drug use,” said Capt. Matthew Trudeau of the VFRS.

According to the fire department, at least 44 fires have occurred at the address since 2020, along with 334 alarms, 87 public service calls, 53 assist calls, 12 rescue calls, and one hazmat call.

Wednesday’s call not only came with fire damage but also severe water damage in parts of the building.

Water forced the roof of the Aura Nightclub, on the building’s ground floor, to cave in. The owner, Alan Goodall, said they have faced more than 200 floods over the years and are constantly closing due to maintenance and repairs.

“It’s wearing on me. I’m a little desensitized to it all,” he said.

“I don’t even know if we are able to open this weekend. I have 15 employees and this would be no notice for them again.”

Goodall is calling on the province and the city to take action.

Vancouver City councillor Peter Meiszner said Wednesday evening that the matter was urgent, and the hotels are at the end of their life and were never intended to serve as supportive housing for people with complex mental health and addiction challenges.

Last week, the ABC councillor brought a motion to the council, which was passed, to work with the Province and offer up city-owned land to replace the SRO units on Granville Street.

“The city is doing everything we can to try to make this happen. We actually did make an offer to the province to replace the Howard Johnson back in February. Unfortunately, that offer was turned down,” said Meiszner.

He is calling on the B.C. NDP to act more swiftly as the danger intensifies in the area and the city revitalizes the Granville strip.

“This is urgent and these people deserve better,” said Meiszner.

“They deserve dignified, self-contained social housing, instead of an old hotel room. We can do better.”

The 100+ units above Aura nightclub were undergoing an inspection on Wednesday evening.

Residents told CTV News they weren’t sure if they would be allowed to stay that evening or if they would have to find alternative accommodations.