Vancouver police say a woman suffered serious burns after she was allegedly set on fire while sitting on a sidewalk in the Downtown Eastside on Monday.
“This was a shocking attack targeting a vulnerable member of our community,” said Const. Tania Visintin said in a statement. “We need witnesses and anyone with information to call police and help solve this crime.”
Police said the woman, who is in her 50s, was sitting on the west side of Dunlevy Avenue near Powell Street around 1:30 a.m.
A stranger approached her, police said, poured a flammable substance on her head and then set her on fire.
The woman was able to run to a nearby business for help and was then transported to the hospital, police confirmed.
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The suspect is described as being in his 30s and fled the area before police were called to the scene.
The woman, who Visintin said is “experiencing homelessness,” remains in the hospital in serious condition.
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Vancouver police said officers are also investigating a second incident that happened later Monday.
A man called police to say his homemade structure had been set on fire while he slept in the southbound lane of Columbia Street near West 5th Avenue between 12:30 and 1:30 a.m. He put out the fire himself and managed to escape without any injuries, police confirmed.
“Investigators do not believe the two incidents are related,” added Visintin. “However, it is still very early in the investigation so we are not ruling anything out.”
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Both arsons remain under investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to call VPD’s Major Crime at 604-717-2541 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
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