Burnaby RCMP are investigating a suspicious fire that happened in the 7000-block of Canada Way early last Friday morning.
The fire began around 2 a.m. on May 31 in an empty unit of a duplex at 7068 Canada Way in South Burnaby. While there were no injuries to the other tenants in the duplex, there was smoke and water damage to the unit, according to Burnaby fire Chief Shaun Redmond.
"On arrival, there was heavy smoke and flames on the . side (of the building) that faces the street," he said. "(Firefighters) were able to contain the fire to the area of origin, and all the occupants got out safely."
An investigation by the fire department determined the cause of the fire was suspicious, and so the file was turned over to the Burnaby RCMP for further investigation, Redmond said.
"If it's difficult for (the fire department) to determine a cause - and just by some of the statements we may gather, or what is witnessed at the scene - we'll pass it on to the RCMP," he said.
As of Monday morning police were still interviewing people, including the upstairs tenants, according to Cpl. Dave Reid of the Burnaby RCMP.
"It appears as though it was set; it was in a vacant unit, (which) is being prepared for occupancy and was repainted that day," he said.
The unit was on the lower level of the duplex and was completely empty at the time of the fire. The door to the unit, however, was left open to air out the unit after painting, Reid added.
"At about two o' clock in the morning, the upstairs tenant heard, what they thought was, a door slam and about five minutes later smoke started coming into their place," he said.
Everyone in the surrounding residences was allowed back into their homes once the fire department stopped the blaze. Only the upstairs tenants had to stay in a hotel for a couple of nights because of the poor air-quality caused by the smoke, Reid said.
He said investigators have a few people they plan on speaking with about the incident.
"Whether or not they could be involved, we don't know," he said.
