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2 dead, about 50 people displaced after suspicious fire breaks out at Duncan apartment
🇨🇦 Canada /Disasters & Emergencies

2 dead, about 50 people displaced after suspicious fire breaks out at Duncan apartment

From Global News · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • Two people died and approximately 50 residents were displaced after a fire broke out at the Gala Vista apartments in Duncan, British Columbia.
  • Firefighters responded to the early morning blaze, battling flames on the second floor and conducting rescue operations for residents trapped by smoke.
  • The cause of the fire is under investigation and is considered suspicious by the North Cowichan / Duncan RCMP.

A fire that broke out early Friday morning in a Duncan, British Columbia, apartment building has resulted in two fatalities and left about 50 residents displaced. The blaze occurred 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.

— Geoff SpriggsDescribing the initial emergency calls and the situation upon arrival.

Fire Chief Geoff Spriggs reported that emergency services received multiple 911 calls around 2:30 a.m., with reports of smoke filling the hallways and residents trapped in their units. Fire departments from Duncan, North Cowichan, and Cowichan Bay collaborated on the fire attack and rescue efforts, focusing on the second floor and assisting people on balconies and from smoke-filled units.

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.

— Geoff SpriggsDetailing the coordinated response and rescue efforts.

The North Cowichan / Duncan RCMP has classified the fire as suspicious and is jointly investigating the cause and circumstances with the Duncan Fire Department, BC Coroner Services, and the Office of the Fire Commissioner. Paramedics treated four individuals who were transported to the hospital in stable condition, with an air ambulance also staged at the scene.

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. So got my kids ready and got out.

— Annalee GeorgeRecounting her experience of discovering the fire and evacuating.

Residents described a chaotic scene. Annalee George recounted being awakened by fire alarms and seeing flames outside her sliding door, prompting her to quickly evacuate with her children. Another resident, Mary Walsh, who has significant cardiovascular issues, expressed distress about spending the night outdoors without accommodation. Emergency Management Cowichan is coordinating support for the displaced residents, while authorities urge anyone with information to contact the RCMP.

I have a 95 per cent blockage in both legs. I’m dealing with cardiovascular conditions and they’re very painful. 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.

— Mary WalshDescribing the difficult conditions for displaced residents.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Global News. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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