Burnaby apartment fire sends 15 to hospital, 3 in serious condition

More than a dozen people were taken to hospital after a fire broke out in a Burnaby, B.C., apartment building early Thursday morning.

Over a dozen people were taken to hospital after a fire broke out in a Burnaby, B.C., apartment building early Thursday morning.

According to the fire department, crews received a report at around 3 a.m. that there was a fire on the fourth floor and smoke was filling the building on Kingsway Avenue between Edmonds Street and Hall Avenue.

After first responders arrived, 12 residents were taken to hospital in stable condition with three others in serious condition, said B.C. Emergency Health Services.

Twelve ambulances with primary care paramedics, three ambulances with advanced care paramedics and a paramedic supervisor responded to the scene.

According to Burnaby Fire, up to 20 people have been displaced.

“We don’t know how it was started or what caused the fire at this time,” said Paul Rushton, the spokesperson for Burnaby Fire.

Rushton says lithium ion batteries from e-scooters and e-bikes added “complexity” to the fire but it’s unclear if this is what sparked the initial blaze.

Burnaby Fire also explained that due to the building’s age, it was not equipped with a sprinkler system

An investigation into the fire is now underway.