TWO people died and two others received minor injuries at a residential structure fire at 9488 163rd Street in Surrey on Monday.
The Surrey Fire Service received a call at 6:59 a.m. on April 9 and fire crews arrived to find a working fire with heavy smoke conditions. There were several occupants in the residence at the time of the fire. One occupant was able to exit the residence on their own and fire crews quickly rescued a second occupant from a second floor balcony. Both were treated at the hospital for minor injuries.
Crews fighting the fire in the basement with limited access were informed that there were two occupants still unaccounted for inside the residence. A search for the missing occupants resulted in fire crews rescuing two occupants from the basement and lifesaving efforts were attempted by BC Ambulance. However, both of the occupants extracted from the basement area died – one at the scene and the other in hospital
After investigation by Surrey RCMP and Surrey Fire Service investigators, the fire is not being considered suspicious. The residence has a medical marijuana license in effect. Fire investigators believe that the cause of the fire is accidental and related to electrical equipment used in the licensed medical marijuana operation.
