[BC省新聞] Fire Chief expects Occupy camp to be up to code by day's end 2011, safety, about

tiffiant

Fire Chief expects Occupy camp to be up to code by day's endCanadian Auto Workers show supportAndrew Hopkins
Nov 12, 2011 17:43:12 PM



VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - Vancouver's fire chief says Occupy Vancouver protesters are finally approaching full compliance with a BC Supreme Court order to bring their camp in line with fire safety codes.

Fire Chief John McKearney says at 8:30 a.m. Saturday about 80 per cent of the tents on the site were non-compliant with the court order that called for one metre between tents, no tarps and no open flames. He says his crews were met with very little opposition and for the most part protesters were cooperative.

Following an afternoon inspection, Captain Gabe Roder said they were at 80 per cent compliance and he expects full compliance by the end of the day. The City of Vancouver also had staffers walking through the site checking that safety requirements were being met.

Hundreds of protesters are still camped out at the Art Gallery, exactly four weeks into the demonstration.  

Auto Workers show support

The protestors got a boost this morning, as representatives with a major Canadian union joined them outside the Vancouver Art Gallery.

Canadian Auto Workers members from across the country are meeting this weekend at the Hotel Vancouver, across the street from the camp.

"We have actually been involved with Occupy Vancouver from the beginning," says CAW BC Director Susan Spratt. "The CAW is providing porta-potties [and] the lumber for the skids to keep people warm and off the ground. We think it's important that those peoples' voices are heard."

Spratt adds the Occupy movement has done more to raise key issues than has been done in the last decade.

Looking ahead to a potential court injunction which could end Occupy Vancouver next week, union representatives believe the cause will not be weakened.

"If Occupy isn't here, those discussions will still continue because people have found their voices, and it's important for them to be heard, and the movement is being built," Spratt says.

Spratt claims Occupy's messages of equality and a better distribution of wealth need to be talked about by people across the country