People in a growing tent city on Hastings Street in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES) were given the order to clear out by Vancouver Fire Chief Karen Fry..Issued Monday, the order says more than 100 tents and tarpaulin structures pose a significant fire and safety hazard, and therefore must be removed by Thursday morning.. DTESDTES .“Should a fire occur in the area in its current condition, it would be catastrophic, putting lives at risk and jeopardizing hundreds of units of much-needed housing,” read a statement from the city..Fire inspectors walked the area of Hastings Street between Carrall and Main Streets last week, finding building entrances blocked and an accumulation of combustible materials against structures, including the storage of propane..Leading up to Thursday's 9 a.m. deadline, the city says it will work with the community, non-profit organizations, and partner government organizations to expedite structure removal and offer additional support for those staying in the shelters..Some of that support includes extra public washrooms, hand-washing stations, and day storage for personal belongings..“The conditions in the DTES are representative of a systemic failure to meet the needs of low-income, marginalized residents and communities, a crisis requiring urgent cooperation of all levels of government,” said city staff Monday..The city acknowledged the situation has grown “significantly more unsafe” since July 1, when the Vancouver Police Department stopped sending officers to accompany city maintenance crews during daily street sweeps, during which unoccupied tents and items were disposed of — a practice that angered activists and city councillors..In response to the new order, Mayor Kennedy Stewart highlighted "the stress and difficulty this order will cause those living in the affected area," however he "completely supports" the fire chief's decision.
