Vancouver – A Vancouver Police officer is recovering from smoke inhalation, after rescuing an unresponsive man from a fire in a Downtown Eastside rooming house early this morning.
The police sergeant was patrolling in the Downtown Eastside around 1 a.m. when he was flagged down in front of Dodson Rooms, near East Hastings and Carrall Street. The officer grabbed a fire extinguisher from his patrol car, entered the building, and went up to a second floor suite, which was filled with smoke from a mattress fire.
After extinguishing the fire, the officer pulled an unresponsive man from the smoke-filled room. Two other VPD officers then assisted the sergeant to safety, as he was being overcome by smoke.
The resident was treated by Vancouver Fire Rescue Services and BC Ambulance Service, then taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The police sergeant was treated for smoke inhalation and is recovering at home.
The was no structural damage to the building.
“We are thankful for our partners at VPD who continue to rush into danger, putting themselves at imminent risk,” says VFRS Chief Karen Fry. “Their actions definitely led to a positive outcome for this resident.”
The mattress fire is believed to have been caused by a torch lighter. Criminal charges are not being considered.
