Fireworks heard before Marpole apartment building went up in flames
Credit to Author: Scott Brown| Date: Wed, 20 Nov 2019 19:56:06 +0000
Vancouver police say fireworks were heard before a Marpole apartment complex went up in flames early Tuesday.
The blaze, which is police are calling suspicious, broke out around 3:30 a.m. in a three-storey, 24-unit wood-frame building near Marine Drive and Heather Street. Seven people — several who were trapped on balconies — were rescued by Vancouver firefighters and two people were taken to hospital, including a 33-year-old man with serious injuries.
Vancouver police Sgt. Steve Addison says detectives believe the fire started outside the building, possibly in some shrubs, and then quickly spread to the structure.
All of the building’s tenants have been displaced by the fire.
“We don’t know if the fire was intentionally set or the result of unintended consequence,” said Addison. “We don’t necessarily believe that whoever may have been responsible (for the fire) meant for all that damage to occur.”
Addison says witnesses reported hearing fireworks and seeing a group of people walking away from the building towards Marine Drive at the time of the fire.
Hey Vancouver🇨🇦!
Your @VanFireRescue crews performed 7 rescues at this 3-alarm fire, 5 from balconies & 2 from inside!
Our @BC_EHS partners transported 1 patient.
No fatalities. No #firefighter injuries. Under investigation.#ProudChief pic.twitter.com/WEiYHe6Vxg
“We believe someone out there knows how this fire started. We’re asking them to do the right thing and come forward,” Addison said. “This fire caused significant damage, destroyed a number of homes, and put dozens of people in harm’s way.”
Anyone with information is asked to call VPD’s major crime section at 604-717-2541. Anonymous tips can be made to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Tenants on the street as Vancouver Fire and Rescue are on the scene of an apartment fire at Marine Drive and Heather Street in Vancouver, BC., November 19, 2019.