Vancouver firefighters are urging motorcyclists to pay more attention after drivers drove over a fire hose last Friday during an active fire in southern Vancouver, cutting the hose and throwing water jets.
Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services responded to a house fire at the intersection of Ash Street and 61st Avenue around 9 a.m. Friday.
A fire has displaced one person, but no one has been injured. The displaced person lived in the basement of the house, according to officials. The upper wing of the house was in the process of being renovated.
During firefighting efforts, emergency personnel connected a fire hose, officially called a “supply line,” to a fire hydrant across the busy Cambie Street.
In a fire of 2 alarms a
THIS SUPPLY OF WATER IS OUR LINE OF LIFE. Imagine you are inside. a house on fire and the water stops.
Never drive over a fire hose, please. pic.twitter.com/18MQFoxroM
– @ IAFF18
Assistant Fire Chief Richard Warnock said several cars later crossed the line. It made the hose explode and the water flew down the street.
“We had to get back on the defensive at that point, to get everyone out, in case we lost the whole line,” Warnock said. “It took us a while.”
Firefighters eventually had to close the damaged line, according to Warnock, and had to install another supply line.
More than 20 firefighters responded to the house fire on Ash Street and 61st Avenue (Maryse Zeidler / CBC)
“I advise anyone approaching a line of fire hose … not to go through it,” he said. “It can reactivate the fire, if we lose the whole line, as well as endanger our boys inside the building.”
More than 20 firefighters responded to the fire and roads around the intersection were cut off Friday morning.