Crews douse another fire in Strathcona Park as city works to shrink homeless camp

Firefighters were called to another tent fire at the Strathcona Park homeless encampment on Thursday evening.

Neighbours reported hearing an explosion around 7:45 p.m.

Crews were able to contain the fire to a single tent and knock it down quickly. Fortunately, there were no reports of injuries.

2:14 Unsafe conditions and destructive fire at the Strathcona park tent city

It came after a pair of fires at the camp last week and a string of troubling incidents, including a fatal overdose and an alleged dog attack.

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Earlier Thursday, Vancouver Park Board general manager Donnie Rosa told CKNW’s Lynda Steele Show that progress was being made in reducing the encampment’s footprint.

The board closed the west side of the park to campers in February, and will now require all tents and structures to be removed from its northeast corner by April 8.

The province and BC Housing have committed to finding housing or shelter for everyone living in the park by the end of April.

“We are working very closely with the partners and coming up with strategies for helping folks get connected to the services,” Rosa said.

“It’s not about moving people along. It’s about identifying those people who need services and connecting them to the city services and other outreach services so that they can find indoor space for them and so that they can get the services they need.”

The park board said Tuesday new locations across Vancouver will be opened “in the coming weeks” to support homeless people, including two new shelters at 875 Terminal Ave. and 15-27 West Hastings St.