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Retiring Vancouver fire chief Karen Fry reflects on Hastings tent city, opioids, and sexism

As Fry prepares to retire this month after 27 years in the fire service, she reflected in a wide-ranging interview on some of the challenges, accomplishments, and memories in an uncommon career

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In the hot, dry summer of 2022, an evolving, dangerous situation in the middle of Karen Fry’s city was gnawing at her daily.

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Dozens of tents and structures had been erected along East Hastings Street, with open flames, gas tanks, lithium batteries, and butane torches posing a serious risk of fire or explosions. At that time, Fry had been the chief of Vancouver Fire Rescue Services for a little over a year — and she believed City Hall wasn’t meeting the problem with the urgency it required.

Fry eventually got the action she wanted, but not without some frustration.

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