A recent rash of arsons in Vancouver is prompting fire officials to warn locals to be vigilant.
Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services (VFRS) says the average number of fires during the January to April period is 275 per month.
In the May to September period, that number climbs to a monthly average of 500.
Brian Hutchinson with VFRS says they have also seen a rash of 13 fires since May 1. “This is an unusual increase which is indicating that our annual increase in monthly fire incidences is beginning,” he says.
Most of the 13 fires are still under investigation, with some being determined as suspicious. Hutchinson says five outdoor fires over the past week are all deemed suspicious in nature.
The rapid increase since the end of April is what really caught the attention of fire investigators and initiated the warning.
VFRS says the increase in fires occurs predominately outside, throughout laneways and alleys.
Residents are being asked to be on the watch for suspicious activities and suspicious people, particularly in lanes. They are being asked to be mindful of discarded items, recycle bins, and garbage that can provide fuel for fires. Residents are also encouraged to install motion-detecting light to deter people from lighting fires.
Last year, the VFRS investigated 151 arsons.
They accounted for about 26 per cent of the fires that the department’s investigators attended and resulted in more than $7 million in property damage.
About 80 per cent of fires occur overnight, between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m.
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