Homicide investigators have been called in after a house fire in the Panorama Ridge area Monday morning turned fatal.
The fire broke out at a detached home on 56 Avenue near 128 Street, with Surrey Fire Services crews reportedly arriving to significant flames and smoke after 7 a.m.
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Assistant Chief Geoff McIntyre says a team of 24 firefighters worked to knock down the fire, containing it to one structure, and searched the home until they were forced out.
He says crews found the body of one occupant. The Surrey Police Service (SPS) later confirmed that the victim was an adult man.
“Interior searching had to be discontinued shortly after that due to a roof collapse and structural instability,” McIntyre explained.
Without the ability to search the home, McIntyre says it’s not yet known if anyone else has died inside.
He says firefighters were still on scene as of 9:30 a.m.
“Crews have worked hard to get the fire knocked down. They’re just extinguishing hot spots at the moment. They’ll remain on scene for a while.”
In an update Monday afternoon, the Surrey Police Service (SPS) says the Lower Mainland’s Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) has taken over investigating the death.
SPS Staff Sgt. Lindsey Houghton says the death is now being “considered suspicious.”
Houghton says investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire and the victim’s identity. He says there was no one else inside the house when firefighters reached it.
“It is possible that you can have a suspicious death and a non-suspicious fire. Sometimes houses do catch on fire, whether it’s faulty wiring or gas or those kinds of things. But in this case, I think it’s fair to say that the death is suspicious, and at this time, the fire is being considered suspicious as well,” he clarified.
Police are asking anyone with information about the fire to contact the non-emergency line at 604-599-0502 and quote file number 26-3704 (SP).
—With files from Dean Recksiedler and Jack Rabb
