Free salt frenzy as Vancouverites scoop up city offering
Desperate residents turn out by the thousands as humorous hashtag #saltcrisis hits social media
How desperate were Vancouverites to get their hands on the free salt being offered at 10 city fire halls?
Really desperate, as it turns out.
Icy streets and sidewalks have made life miserable for pedestrians and drivers alike thanks to an unusual cold snap that has gripped Vancouver for almost a month.
One person desperate for the free salt was caught in the middle of the night attempting to load up a truck and garbage cans — even though the publicly stated opening time was 9 a.m. PT.
Others showed up an hour in advance, and long salt lines formed around the fire halls.
By 10 a.m. the free salt was gone, leading some to describe the situation as a #saltcrisis on social media.
The City of Vancouver provided more salt later in the day, but people were restricted to one bucket instead of two.
While the salt was originally going to be available until 8 p.m., the city's supply was extinguished by 3:30 p.m.
The city says a new patch will be delivered to fire halls between 8 a.m. and noon on Thursday.
This is the lineup of people waiting to pick up free salt at fire hall number 14 on Venables Street <a href="https://t.co/55bilMkcjM">pic.twitter.com/55bilMkcjM</a>
—@FarrahMeraliLine up for salt Renfrew firehall <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/vancouverpostcard?src=hash">#vancouverpostcard</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CBCStephenQuinn">@CBCStephenQuinn</a> <a href="https://t.co/uYpos5p91n">pic.twitter.com/uYpos5p91n</a>
—@garyjarvismediaSome folks are getting creative while waiting for the salt to arrive. There are more than 100 people in line now <a href="https://t.co/OQCfQpzkGW">pic.twitter.com/OQCfQpzkGW</a>
—@FarrahMeraliOnly in Vancouver is the shortage of free salt a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/saltcrisis?src=hash">#saltcrisis</a>, a source of journalistic outrage, and the sign of need for a change in gov’t.
—@LesliBoldtIt's now unclear whether any salt will be arriving at fire hall number 14. <a href="https://twitter.com/CityofVancouver">@CityofVancouver</a> says there's no more <a href="https://t.co/amcvgVRpzQ">pic.twitter.com/amcvgVRpzQ</a>
—@FarrahMeraliHuge response to limited supply of salt at 10 firehalls = very low supply. Salt/sand coming in afternoon: pls take 1 bucket max only! <a href="https://t.co/hxQhFAt1pG">pic.twitter.com/hxQhFAt1pG</a>
—@CityofVancouverSalt shortage in Vancouver.<br>But here I am sitting on a GOLD MINE! And it's unopened!!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vancouver?src=hash">#Vancouver</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Snow?src=hash">#Snow</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/saltcrisis?src=hash">#saltcrisis</a> <a href="https://t.co/gzZylkBCHm">pic.twitter.com/gzZylkBCHm</a>
—@SuttoZ953