Police are investigating a suspicious fire that tore through four unoccupied homes in Burnaby early Wednesday morning.
Fire crews were called to the area near 18th Avenue and 18th Street in South Burnaby at about 2:11 a.m.
Firefighters arrived to find multiple single-family homes “fully involved,” according to assistant fire Chief Darcy Robinson.
“There were four structures that were slated for demolition,” he told the NOW. “So, basically, they’re a perfect scenario to burn quickly because there’s no drywall or anything in there, so it’s just like you’re building a campfire in the backyard.”
A total of 42 firefighters and 11 trucks were on scene, as crews worked to “surround and drown” the fire to keep it from spreading to other buildings, according to Robinson.
He said there didn’t appear to be any squatters in the building, but police and fire investigators have yet to enter the structures. That was scheduled to happen sometime Wednesday morning.
Burnaby RCMP have been at the scene from the beginning, and spokesperson Cpl. Mike Kalanj confirmed police are investigating the blaze.
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