A fire that killed three men inside a Vancouver rooming house last December was caused by a string of Christmas lights or a short-circuiting extension cord, a coroner's inquest has heard.
The Pandora Street fire that killed Garland McKay, Dwayne Rasmussen and Stephen Yellowquill generated political controversy. The city had earlier determined the residence was not a safety risk, despite numerous bylaw infractions. Its long-time head of the property-use inspection branch resigned after the fire, then sued the city for wrongful dismissal.
Captain Ray Bryant, a Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services investigator, was one of several people to take the stand on the first day of testimony. He told the inquest that the three men's efforts to mark the holiday season might have been their undoing.
"Indications to me were this was an accidental fire caused by a probable short of an extension cord or a string of Christmas lights," he said.
The inquest is a formal court proceeding that allows public presentation of all evidence relating to a death. The five-person jury can make recommendations aimed at preventing deaths in similar circumstances in the future, but cannot assign blame.
Captain Bryant, who's been with Vancouver Fire for 26 years, said flames broke out on the back deck of the Eastside residence. The deck had been enclosed, he said, and was improperly being rented out as a bedroom. A Christmas tree – complete with lights – was set up near one of the mattresses.
Extension cords ran throughout the home because it had improper wiring, he said. The house had two smoke detectors, but one of its residents told the inquest that they didn't work. Harry Kayes testified that he'd just returned from a walk when he heard a popping sound, then an explosion. He said he was unable to rescue the three victims because the smoke was too intense.
On Tuesday, the inquest is expected to hear from Carlene Robbins, the former senior city inspector who abruptly left her job in January. Ms. Robbins filed a lawsuit that claimed she was demoted soon after the fatalities, a move that was effectively a dismissal for the 38-year employee.
The yellow-and-white home was long a problem for the city. The fire department was called to it 21 times from May of 2007, to the time of the blaze. The city was moving to have it vacated but didn't have the power to do so immediately because the conditions were not deemed life-threatening.
Daisy Lavallie, Mr. Yellowquill's mother, broke down as she told reporters her son's death could have been prevented.
Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson said on Monday that the city might need to take a harder approach in similar situations in the future.
"We do have a team at the city now looking at the inspection process and the follow-through in terms of enforcement," he said. "We certainly don't want to see the horrific tragedies like Pandora happen again."
Of any recommendations the inquest might make, he said: "I expect that we will implement any recommendations that haven't already been put into motion. We're looking forward to hearing what the inquiry brings forward."
The inquiry, which is being held in Burnaby, is scheduled to hear testimony through Wednesday. The jury is expected to begin its deliberations on Thursday.
With reports from Matthew Robinson and The Canadian Press