Resources being stretched to the breaking point as crews respond to calls related to the heat wave: Vancouver fire department

Vancouver's fire department says resources are being stretched to the breaking point as crews respond to calls related to the heat wave and the overdose crisis, just as the pandemic is winding down.

Captain Jonathan Gormick of Vancouver Fire Rescue Services says three times the number of calls are coming in compared with earlier this year, and extra crews are being brought in for critical response roles.

He says that in addition to cardiac, heat and overdose emergencies, crews also responded to a fire at Wreck Beach yesterday involving the BC Wildfire Service.

Gormick says response times are much longer and people are being asked to monitor those around them for signs of heat stress, especially among those who are most vulnerable, including the elderly and children.