North Vancouver fire sends two people to hospital, displaces several others
Posted November 27, 2020 8:15 am.
Last Updated November 27, 2020 12:50 pm.
NORTH VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – An early-morning fire Friday at a North Vancouver townhouse complex has landed a mother and father in the hospital.
Crews had estimated about 20 people were forced out of the complex on Princess Avenue and 29th Street when the blaze broke out.
David Dales, assistant chief of operations with the North Vancouver District Fire Department, says multiple calls of the “fully engulfed structure fire” came in just after 1 a.m. Friday.
A family of three lives in the complex where the fire started, “in the upper portion of the house, where the bedrooms are,” Dales says.
“Unfortunately these people were still in the house when we arrived, and traditionally we don’t see that when there’s a working smoke detector,” he says.
“The female was transported to local hospital as a precaution, but, sadly, the male was transported to a specialized hospital in medical distress.”
Six people are also being assisted by emergency management services after being displaced.
UPDATE: 6 residents are being supported by @NorthShoreEMO after their homes were affected by fire and smoke. Prelim reports indicated higher number of impacted residents. We appreciate @DNVFRS' great work once again to help the community.@cbcnewsbc @NEWS1130 https://t.co/QLZ4ppv1Dt
— District of North Vancouver (@NVanDistrict) November 27, 2020
“[Crews] were met with smoke and flame exiting an upper window,” Dales explains. “They conducted a rescue of one of the residents. They got that patient out to the lawn, began medical treatment, and then the other oncoming engines arrived and they entered the suite and knocked the fire down.”
Dales says everyone else made it out of the complex safely — all with their pets.
The unit where the fire is believed to have started is “completely destroyed.”
“The townhouse complex is in good shape,” Dales says of the rest of the building.
It’s believed people living in the other units will be able to return to their homes in the next few days.
While the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, it doesn’t seem to be suspicious, Dales says.
“The fire investigation team just needs to really gather up all the evidence and then decide. There is some police involved.”
-with files from Tim James
