Halfway house fire sparks rescue atiempt Katharine Hamer Contributing Writer MIKE Mullin went above and beyond the call of duty last week. The West Vancouver fire: fighter was on his way hone froma March 10 shift when he passed by a house iire at the comer of Burrard and West Est Avenue in Kitsilano, Mullin said he stopped bis car outside the building when he saw smoke drifting from a downstairs window, “T couldn't hear any sirens,” he said, “and | knew the Vancouver Fire Department at Jeast a couple of min- Mullin took matters into his own hands when a resident of the house told him that there Were occupants within) who could be trapped by the 4 “There was a distraught tel- low on the tront lawn shouting ‘get out, get out!” said someone's called 911°" When the man suggested to Mullin that there could be three people on the top floor of the house, the fireman assessed the situation and decided to enter the building. “I did what we call a ‘size-up,’ to determine how quickly and how safely 1 could get in and out of the house,” said Mullin. He initially looked around the side of the building for a ladder to gain entrance to the top floor of the house, thereby avoiding the stairwell When he couldn't find one, he entered ¢ building via the front deor and began to make his way to the next le “T yelled out and listened to s ices,” he said. “1 couldn't hear anyor get out. “I's no good being reckless and getting able to establish that one of the rooms had an caught in a tire — you're just making things if] could icked in several suite doors, and was very poor,” Twas having difficulty breathing. Uknew J had to Wednesday, March 24, 1999 — North Shore News ~3 fi-duty action lauded house, all of the windows exploded. Psanold house -- about 80 vears old, and the whole thing was gutted,” he said. “Wher | went mstide Pcould see it was mess -- there vy garbage strewn everwhere The building is apparently a low cost: halfway house for people with menu disorders. Mullin said it was likely that the man he'd first encountered was mentally il, and chat he'd been confined about whether anyone Was actually ins the hou He said another occupant who arrived on the scene was upset because “the book he'd been working on for the last five years had gone up in smoke.” “EP tried to comole him,” said Mullin. “f told him, ‘hey, at least vou’re not hu: ” When the Vancouver Deparement arrived, Mullin briefed their caprain on events before departing the scene. The West Vancouver Professional Fire — Fight Association (WVPFFA) later praised Muillin’s bravery. “Even on duty ... when we are properly equipped ... the are substantial,” said WVPFFA NEWS photo Paul McGrath treasurer Gord Howard, “OH Mullin. “I told him, ‘its OK, WEST Vancouver firefighter Mike Mullin entered a buriing building in Vancouver after being told thatresidants = duty, there is (nothing) to pro- “After abour a minute, the visibiliry became and he was right. Had thi were burning and — people trapped upstai Mike’s act of bravery reminds us of what it means he said. “My ¢: were trapped inside. Multin was off-duty at the time. His actions have been applauded by fellow firefighters. tect us.” “Mike took a calculated actually been thre they would have d to be a firefighter.” Bur Mullin is a reluctant fire station across the Lower Mainland has stories ». He says every open window which he could escape from if nee- essary, but finally retraced his steps back down through the house when it became clear that more difficult for the firemen who arrive. They don’t need someone to rescue (on top of extin- guishing flames).” of unsung bravery. “(fir’s safe cnough) I can’t think of any fire- fighter I know that could stand on the outside there were 0 occupants left in the building. Mullin said within a minute afier he exited the — and not go in,” he said. Fast ferry tests its speed Media run shows quic slick ship Anna Marie D'Angelo News Reporter dangelo@nsnews.com THE PacifiCat showed its speed Monday. In the wake ofa favourable technical report, media people were invited for a 2% hour sea trial of the fast ferry in Georgia Strait hat was an inde technical report that said th NEWS photo Anna Marie D'Angelo a fine ship,” said Clay Suddaby, CREW on the PacifiCat bridge, including Capt. Trafford Taylor (right), head the B.C. Ferries spokesman. The technical audit was conducted by John J. MeMullen Associates Inc. and represented a break in the bad news thar has been associated with the NEWS photo Mike Waketleld financially troubled ferries project. ALEX Salazar, with LGH, and the health region’s Brent Eriksson show some scrap equipment. Funding requested From page 1 Enksson said ority capital pri item. According to the minutes of a B.C. Health Standards Council meeting held in January, council chairman John Mullin said it’s too late for B.C, health regions to achieve Y2K compliance in all affected areas. Treasury board money will be focused mainly on Y2K problems that have the potential to affect the health and safety of patients, Problems affecting admin- systems will be dealt with at a lower priority. In many nces, compliance will have to be postponed in favor of con- are being encour- plans in conjunction with municipalities and the Provincial Emergency Program. tingency planning. He said health authorit aged to update their continge F 2000 remediation is the health region's top pri- On Monday, the PacitiCat, an alu- minum hulled catamaran, reached 37. ats (69 km-h) with a “comfortable” ing speed of 36.5 knots (67 km-h). : ferries in the regular tlect (Spivi? of BC. and Spirit of Vanconver Island) have top speeds of 19 knots (35 km-hj, said CEO Bob Lingwood ‘and ne board chairman Michael Francis through formation the ship during the sea trial. The fast ferries project includes a North Vancouver-built fleet of three ships. The project started in 1994 with an estimated cost of $210 million. That figure has since jumped to $445 million. The first fast ferry was originally sched- uled to be in service in 1996. It is now sup- posed to begin ing the Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo route in late June. The cost of riding a fast ferry will be the same as a regular terry. The fast ferry is supposed to shave 30 minutes trom the current 1¥ hour voyage. The ship works with about three times the horsepower as the ing Horseshoe Ray to Nanaimo ferry. The fast ferry zles more fuel than the other te t ferry consumes 5,385 litres of fuel one-way crip, according to Fernes. Fos! consumption on the C $ ferries eon the Horse ve Bay route i i engin manufacturer, MTU in Germany, paving ry company to put evlinder liners in Suddaby said thar the three- job is equivalent to a factory recall. inder liners are supposed to extend the engine’ s life. Also on board the ferry on, Monday was Liberal ferry critic, Doug Symons, Richmond MLA. “I have mixed feelings, We still don’t know how well it’s going to fare do we?” said Symons barely audible above the vessel under the Lions Gate Bridge on Monday. engine roar in the bottom of car deck. Symons said it would take abour a year of passenger use before the success or failure of the fast fleet would be known, He favoured construction of a steel sin- gle-hull ferry that would have been ! expensive. Meanwhile along for the test run Monday were huge bags of water on the bottom car deck. The bags added weight equivalent to 65% of the maximum 250 cars. d to carry 1,000 people including Passenger decks inside and out scemed smail compared to Nanaimo ferries. One radio reporter said the passenger decks looked like a giant Red Robin restaurant. They also resembled a nautical-themed disco with neon si spot lights, silver pancled surfaces and nort- hole window As the ferry slowed down to 21 knots (39 km-h) on her return towards the Lions Gate Bridge, the PacifiCat appeared to be barely moving. The vessel docked smiooth- ly at the foot of Sr. Andrews Avenue.