Firefighters struggled to hold back as riot fires burned

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The head of the Vancouver Fire Fighters’ Union says it was very difficult for his members to be held back as they watched cars and rubble burn in the street during Wednesday night’s riot.

“As directed by the police for our own safety and their safety, it was very tough to stand back and watch fires burn and people needing attention, something that we’re simply not used to,” says Gord Ditchburn.

“We [typically] go in when everyone else is coming out, and at this particular time, for our members’ safety and the police, we were told to stay back.”

There will be a full review and follow-up report on how emergency crews handled Wednesday’s riot, which Ditchburn hopes will provide some answers. He says it was a unique situation on Wednesday, fuelled by a minority intent on causing a lot of damage.

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