An investigation is underway in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside after a woman was reportedly set on fire earlier this week while sitting on the sidewalk.
Vancouver police said the incident happened Monday around 1:30 p.m. A woman in her 50s was sitting near Dunlevy and Powell streets when a stranger allegedly “poured a flammable substance over her head and set her on fire.” .
She ran to a nearby business to get help and was taken to hospital with serious burns.
“This was a shocking attack targeting a vulnerable member of our community,” said Const. Tanya Visintin. “We need witnesses and anyone with information to call police and help solve this crime.
Police described the suspect in that incident as a white male in his 30s. He fled the scene before investigators arrived.
A second incident is under investigation, police said. That same day, a man called police to report that his makeshift shelter had been set on fire while he was sleeping near Columbia Street and West 5th Avenue. He told police he put out the fire himself and escaped without injury.
Police confirmed to CTV News Vancouver that both victims are homeless.
“Investigators do not believe the two incidents are related,” Visintin said. “However, it is still very early in the investigation so we are not ruling anything out.”
Police said they do not believe the incidents are related because the descriptions of the suspects are different.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 604-717-2541.
With files from Regan Hasegawa of CTV News Vancouver
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