Officials in Vancouver are set to provide an update on the removal of a construction crane that fell during a massive fire in the Dunbar neighbourhood two weeks ago.
The crane toppled over as flames were shooting from a six-storey wood-frame building that was being built in the area on Aug. 6. The crane fell across West 41st Avenue, taking down power lines and trolley wires, and hitting homes across the way.
Last week, the city said the crane “will not be moved from its current location for at least two weeks,” citing the complexity of planning, equipment needed, and workers required to do the work safely.
“Part of the complexity is that the crane is currently structurally sound; however, as crews begin dismantling it, the balance of weight may shift, potentially creating instability. We are working with relevant partners to ensure a thorough and careful plan is in place to maintain safety throughout the process,” the city said on Aug. 15.
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The city added the crane is the responsibility of the site owner and its contractors.
“Once the crane is removed, the site owner is fully responsible for the cleanup of any debris. While the city is not responsible for the cleanup, we will coordinate with Sightline Properties to ensure the neighbourhood is informed of upcoming work,” officials explained.
The blaze created “its own kind of firestorm,” according to Vancouver Fire Rescue Services Chief Karen Fry.
While there were no injuries reported, one person was incredibly lucky to be alive after the crane fell on their home.
“When you can see how close this crane came, it actually landed on a house — in the middle of a house — and an individual was trapped inside that house. Between our firefighters and VPD, we extricated that patient from a window in order to evacuate them from a house, when it was safe to do so,” Fry said.
She shared that two extra homes were lost to the Dunbar fire as a result of embers from the main apartment fire.
Fencing remains in place around the crane to keep people away from the structure. Businesses in the area, meanwhile, are still accessible, officials have said.
However, some workers in the area have said the fire and subsequent road closure have had an impact on their bottom line.
The City of Vancouver’s update on Wednesday is set to take place at 10 a.m. You can watch it live on CityNews 24/7 and listen for updates throughout the day on-air and online.
-With files from Charles Brockman