Burnaby firefighters were slightly busier during the final quarter of 2013 compared to other quarters last year.
Fire chief Doug McDonald’s report for the months of October, November and December was presented to city council at its Jan. 27 meeting. The report indicated a small increase in incidents over the same months in the previous year – from 3,509 in 2012 to 3,628 in 2013.
According to the report, while there were fewer building fires and motor vehicle accidents during the third quarter of 2013 than in 2012, there were higher numbers of vehicle and other fires, false alarms, medical emergencies and public service incidents.
In total, the Burnaby Fire Department responded to more than 1,000 incidents in 2013 than in the year prior. The department also conducted nearly 300 more inspections in 2013 than in 2012.
Some of the notable building fires in 2013 include the fire at an apartment complex at 3526 Smith Ave., which left more than 100 people homeless. The fire began early Feb. 17, and it took firefighters two days to put out the remaining hotspots.
Nearly 10 months later, a fire at 6023 Pandora St. forced people out of their homes on Christmas morning. Shortly before 8 a.m. on Dec. 25, the fire department received a call concerning a two-alarm blaze in one of the apartment units in the complex. While the fire was contained to one unit, there was considerable smoke damage to the rest of the building, forcing the tenants to find alternative lodging until it was safe to return.
The hot weather during the summer was also cause for concern for the Burnaby Fire Department, which issued a warning to the public in July after nearly 35 days without rain. Firefighters spent an entire day putting out a number of bush fires along the railway tracks between Highway 1 and Lougheed Highway.
Assistant fire chief Darryl Smith told the NOW bush fires can spread easily and people should remain cautious when out for a stroll in any of the city’s trails.
While Burnaby’s first quarter fire report for this year won’t be released for some time, the department has already attended one serious blaze.
On Jan. 4, a fire at 7647 Willard St. almost completely destroyed the site of the old Globe Foundry. According to investigators, the fire began early in the morning and quickly grew so large residents in the Edmonds area above the site could see smoke billowing from it.
It took firefighters almost four hours to put out and crews returned to the site throughout the day to ensure no hotspots had flared up. While the investigation remains open, both the fire department and RCMP have few clues into who or what may have caused the blaze.
