Two people died after a fire broke out in an apartment building in Duncan, B.C., on Vancouver Island on Friday morning.
Geoff Spriggs, Fire Chief with the City of Duncan, said a call came in at about 2:30 a.m., reporting a unit on fire at the Gala Vista apartments on Government Street.
“Multiple 911 calls were reported and lots of smoke reported in the hallway, with people stuck in their units unable to get into the hallways,” he said.
“We responded with the assistance of our mutual aid partners with North Cowichan and Cowichan Bay, and all three departments started to work on the fire attack on the second floor and the rescue operations to get the people off the balconies and out of the units that were affected by the smoke.”
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but North Cowichan / Duncan RCMP said the fire is considered suspicious.
The fire is being jointly investigated by the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP Serious Crime Team, Duncan Fire Department, BC Coroner Services and the Office of the Fire Commissioner to determine the cause and circumstances of the incident.
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B.C. Emergency Health Services said they were also called to the fire at 2:51 a.m.
“Multiple paramedic ambulance resources, including emergency medical responders, primary care paramedics and a paramedic supervisor, attended the scene,” they confirmed in a statement.
“An air ambulance with critical care paramedics was also staged. Paramedics provided emergency medical care to four patients who were then transported to hospital in stable condition.”
Spriggs said about 50 people were displaced by the fire.
Annalee George is one of those people and said she was awakened just after 2 a.m. by the fire alarms going off.
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“I went to go check and I seen a couple ladies running out and I looked right out my sliding door and I see fire outside the front,” she said.
“So got my kids ready and got out.”
George said they have been told they may be out of their home for a day or two.
Another resident, Mary Walsh, said it has been a long and uncomfortable night.
“I have a 95 per cent blockage in both legs. I’m dealing with cardiovascular conditions and they’re very painful,” she said.
“And it’s no fun staying outside all night and freezing. And 7-Eleven locked their doors and wouldn’t let us in. Old people opened their doors for us.”
Walsh said they also have nowhere to go and no hotel or motel arrangements have been made.
Spriggs said Emergency Management Cowichan is on the scene and has taken over care of the building.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP at 250-748-5522.