Round two of the City of Vancouver’s attempt to distribute free salt to residents will go on Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon at 10 fire halls, with another distribution at 4 p.m. if necessary.
Yesterday’s first attempt was a PR disaster.
Police were called to several fire halls when people waiting in line in the bitter cold became unruly.
Outside fire hall #17 on Knight Street, more than 100 people were lined up as of 8:30 a.m.
Some arrived as early as 7:15 a.m., hoping to get their hands on the precious salt, but the salt was gone in under three minutes.
READ MORE: No more salt for Vancouver fire halls, hardware stores face shortage
Many are angry the City didn’t provide an exact time for delivery because they are having to wait, many of them are seniors waiting in the cold.
Some say they’re willing to wait for hours.
There is a one-bucket maximum but many people had two or three buckets in hand, even after being told they can only a maximum of one bucket.
One woman says she was pushed to the ground the moment salt arrived.
No one from the City was there to enforce the one-bucket rule or to make sure collecting was done in an orderly fashion but staff arrived later to help with second salt shipment.
Several fire halls didn’t have any salt for yesterday’s 9 a.m. start time because the salt had been delivered overnight and people jumped the gun and filled their buckets early.
Meanwhile, hundreds lined up outside fire hall 22 waiting for salt.
Some have been waiting since 7 a.m.
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When salt finally arrived city workers were at the scene to control the crowds at this fire hall.
City workers also checked that everybody in the hundred-or-so person line had some kind of ID to prove they were locals.
Another shipment is expected this afternoon.
The 10 fire halls that will have free salt for Vancouver residents are:
- Fire Hall #3 – 2801 Quebec Street
- Fire Hall #4 – 1475 W. 10th Avenue
- Fire Hall #7 – 1090 Haro Street
- Fire Hall #12 – 2460 Balaclava Street
- Fire Hall #13 – 4013 Prince Albert Street
- Fire Hall #14 – 2804 Venables Street
- Fire Hall #15 – 3003 E. 22nd Avenue
- Fire Hall #17 – 7070 Knight Street
- Fire Hall #19 – 4396 W. 12th Avenue
- Fire Hall #22 – 1005 W. 59th Avenue
City denies salt shortage
Despite the so-called #SaltCrisis, the City of Vancouver says there is ample salt to prepare for the anticipated upcoming snowfall.
“The City would like to confirm that it has not run out of salt, and regular shipments of salt continue to come in to help crews in their efforts to salt the road,” says an email sent to CKNW.
The email says crews will be putting down a salt and sand mix on residential side streets that are most impacted by ice.
READ MORE: “Sorry,” say neighbouring cities as Vancouver scrambles for salt
“Recognizing the need for salt as a tool for snow and ice removal, the City has continued to provide free salt to residents in order to assist in the removal of ice and snow from sidewalks and businesses.”
The City recommends residents and businesses to do the following in anticipation of Friday’s snowfall:
- Shovel off any remaining ice or snow that is on the sidewalks or driveways from the December 31 snowfall.
- Lay salt down on sidewalks and driveways prior to the snowfall. This will help to melt the ice and make it easier to remove.
- Shovel new snow as soon as it falls to prevent buildup and melting into an ice crust. While residents have until 10 a.m. until after a snowfall, getting out early in the morning before the morning commute will help ensure that snow isn’t packed down and will make it easier to remove.
The City says more than 260 staff have been redeployed from other city projects to help support ice and snow removal as well as missed garbage collections.
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