Apartment fire suspicious

UPDATE: noon

Richmond RCMP are deeming an early morning apartment fire suspicious.

More than 20 people were evacuated from their homes on Bennett Road because of the fire.

Buses were used to keep people warm while temporary housing could be arranged by City of Richmond Emergency Social Services.

"We are working with Richmond Fire Rescue to determine the cause of the fire," said Cpl. Dennis Hwang. "Although we are in the preliminary stages of our investigation, this fire is being treated as suspicious.

"We will be combing the area for evidence, and we’d appreciate hearing from anyone who might have any information on this fire to contact us.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Richmond RCMP at 604-278-1212, email [email protected] or call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

---

ORIGINAL

Fire ripped through a Richmond apartment building overnight.

The blaze broke out about 1:45 a.m., burning at least two units and damaging the exterior of the building on Bennett Road, near No. 3 Road.

It is believed to have started in a ground-floor unit and spread to an upstairs suite.

Residents were safely evacuated and the fire was quickly brought under control. 

"The fire alarm went off and then people were yelling fire, fire!" resident Marco Argieri told CTV. "I'm in the apartment right beside it, and came out of my door and the flames were shooting."

"We had no injuries to any people living in the building nor our firefighters," said deputy chief Tim Wilkinson, with Richmond Fire-Rescue. 

The older, two-storey wood-frame building does not have sprinklers.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. 

– with files from CTV Vancouver