Smokable drug use is reshaping British Columbia’s overdose crisis, creating new risks for public safety and emergency response. As health officials push to expand safer supply, including smokable fentanyl, fire-related incidents in single-room occupancy buildings are rising, displacing hundreds and straining resources. Dr. Bonnie Henry’s recommendations emphasize decriminalization and increased drug access, while Premier David Eby signals a shift toward involuntary care, exposing a widening policy divide. With overdose prevention and fire safety now colliding, British Columbia faces growing pressure to confront the consequences of its harm reduction policies.
The Shift to Smoking and Its Consequences
Smoking has surpassed injection as the primary mode of drug use in BC, with 65% of users in 2023 preferring inhalation over intravenous consumption. This shift is attributed to the increasing unpredictability of the drug supply, a belief that smoking reduces overdose risk, and widespread fear of needle-related infections. As safer supply programs expand, there is growing concern that the encouragement of smokable drugs could exacerbate the fire crisis in low-income housing.
Despite safer supply initiatives aiming to provide regulated alternatives to illicit substances, most users continue to access the unregulated market. Reports indicate that illegal fentanyl and methamphetamine remain the most commonly smoked substances, often using high-temperature torches, which significantly increase fire hazards.
Drug-Related Fires on the Rise
The consequences of increased smokable drug use extend beyond overdose risks. Vancouver Fire Rescue Services (VFRS) has reported a dramatic rise in fires linked to torch lighters, which are frequently used to inhale fentanyl and other substances. In 2023 and 2024 alone, there were 3,128 fires where a torch was the likely cause, resulting in approximately $16.8 million in property damage, 79 fire-related injuries, and six fire fatalities. These incidents displaced 397 civilians, with SRO residents facing the greatest risks.
SRO residents are 67 times more likely to experience a structure fire than other Vancouver residents, mainly due to the use of continuous flame lighters in confined living spaces. The latest statistics show that firefighters respond to more than one fire per day at SRO facilities. 2016 there were approximately 100 SRO structure fires annually, but that number surged to 378 in 2023. By mid-2024, crews responded to 147 fires, with over 50% of these incidents caused by “smoking materials.”
Recent high-profile fires, such as the Winters Hotel fire, underscore the vulnerabilities of SRO buildings. Although the cause of that fire was not officially linked to drug smoking, it highlights the broader fire risks in aging, densely populated buildings where harm reduction services are concentrated. The increased use of high-powered lighters in these environments has exacerbated the danger, creating urgent concerns for fire prevention.
The Butane Lighter Ban and Its Shortcomings
In response to the surge in fire incidents, the City of Vancouver implemented a ban on continuous-flame butane lighters, often used for smoking fentanyl and methamphetamine. The policy, however, has been widely criticized for its lack of enforcement. A walk down East Hastings Street reveals dozens of these lighters still in circulation, raising questions about the efficacy of targeting paraphernalia rather than addressing the underlying crisis of addiction.
Critics argue that banning lighters is a reactive measure that fails to address the drivers of substance use. Instead of focusing on prohibition-style policies, many harm reduction advocates emphasize the need for enhanced prevention programs, greater access to treatment, and housing solutions that do not force individuals into unsafe living conditions.
Firefighters Struggling to Keep Up
VFRS now responds to more than one fire per day in SROs, often encountering active overdoses while extinguishing blazes. Capt. Matthew Trudeau of Vancouver Fire Rescue highlighted the dual crisis, stating, “Firefighters are encountering situations with an active overdose and unit fires. Managing both at the same time is extremely difficult for crews.” This growing workload greatly strains emergency services, stretching resources and diverting personnel from other urgent calls.
Fire Hall 2, which serves the Downtown Eastside, handles many of these calls, responding to overdoses, structure fires, and other emergencies daily. First responders describe the situation as an ongoing crisis escalating with little relief. As a result, Fire Chief Karen Fry has requested the city hire 40 additional firefighters and 15 other staff to cope with the increasing demands. This escalating crisis not only impacts emergency services but also takes a significant toll on firefighters’ mental health, with many experiencing burnout after just seven months of working in these challenging conditions.
Policy Contradictions in Substance Use Response
While public safety measures like the butane lighter ban attempt to mitigate fire risks, health officials continue advocating for increased access to smokable substances under safer supply programs. The contradiction between harm reduction efforts and fire prevention measures highlights the ongoing challenges in policy alignment. Vancouver’s approach to substance use remains fragmented, with various agencies pushing conflicting strategies that leave frontline responders struggling to manage the fallout.
At the same time, Premier David Eby’s growing support for involuntary care represents a potential policy shift. If implemented, this could significantly alter how substance use disorders are addressed in the province, shifting the focus from harm reduction toward compulsory treatment for high-risk individuals. Whether such measures will alleviate the crisis or further strain emergency resources remains an open question.
Fire, Overdose, and Policy Failures Collide
British Columbia’s ongoing struggle with the opioid crisis is no longer confined to overdoses. The rise in smokable drug use has created a secondary crisis—one where the line between harm reduction and public safety continues to blur. While safer supply programs aim to provide regulated alternatives to illicit substances, the reality on the ground tells a different story. Emergency responders now routinely battle both overdoses and fires in single-room occupancy buildings, where the use of high-temperature lighters has become a lethal hazard. The province’s attempts to address these dangers remain fragmented, with one side pushing for increased access to smokable drugs while another enforces a butane lighter ban that has done little to curb the risk.
For frontline workers, the consequences are immediate—overstretched fire crews, overwhelmed paramedics, and an increasing number of displaced residents left to navigate a system that cannot keep up with the emergencies it has helped create. With Vancouver’s fire calls in SROs more than tripling in the past decade and Premier David Eby reconsidering his stance on involuntary care, the province faces mounting pressure. Policymakers can no longer afford to address drug use and its consequences in isolation. Without a unified strategy that accounts for harm reduction and the real-world dangers it can bring, British Columbia will continue cycling through reactionary measures, treating symptoms while ignoring the growing crisis at its core.
Glenn is dedicated to scrutinizing government actions affecting the Downtown Eastside and holding those in power accountable for their commitments. With a focus on transparency and policy analysis, his writing aims to expose gaps between promises and outcomes, pushing for meaningful changes that benefit the community.
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