Police are investigating a suspected arson that caused "extensive damage" to the lobby of a North Burnaby apartment highrise early Wednesday morning.
Firefighters were called to 4353 Halifax St. at 2:56 a.m. for a building fire, according to deputy fire Chief Ian Hetherington.
At the scene, he said crews found "heavy fire and black smoke" pouring out of the entrance way of the 24-storey building.
Three of the lower floors were evacuated as firefighters knocked down the blaze, which Hetherington said was confined to the lobby of the concrete structure.
Residents were allowed back into their units once fire crews ventilated the building and stairwells, he said.
Burnaby RCMP got a call from the fire department just after 3:30 a.m. because of suspected arson, and police are now investigating, according to media spokesperson Cpl. Laura Hirst.
"There was extensive damage to the front lobby of the building, but thankfully no injuries," she said in an emailed statement.
Local resident Deniz Gyursey, who lives in a lowrise in the same complex as the scorched building said finding out the fire was suspicious has made him uneasy.
"There's this fear now that this could have happened to our building, and it still could," he said. "This concern is going to stay for a while."
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