Vancouver officials defend efforts to remove Hastings Street tent city | FULL

Vancouver's fire chief says the city has been focusing on removing hazardous material, not people, from the encampment on Hastings Street.

Chief Karen Fry, Mayor Kennedy Stewart and other officials held a news conference on Wednesday to give an update on efforts to clear out the tents and other structures.

"It's not a matter of if a fire is going to happen, it's when it's going to happen," Fry told reporters, listing safety risks such as blocked exits, blocked access to fire department connections, combustible materials against the buildings, and propane canisters.

People experiencing homelessness recently began setting up tents along a section of Hastings Street, sparking renewed arguments about a lack of housing and how to address it.

On Aug. 9, Fry issued a fire safety order to clear the street of structures, and city officials moved in to clear them days later, leading to backlash and protests from those living in the tents.

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