2 injured, dozens displaced in North Vancouver apartment fire
'People will be out for an extended period of time,' officials say
Two people were injured and dozens displaced after a fire in a North Vancouver apartment complex overnight.
"It was a tough battle for the crews," said City of North Vancouver Fire Chief Dan Pistilli.
Crews were called to an eight-storey building in the 500-block of Lonsdale Avenue at 2 a.m. Friday, after receiving reports of flames shooting through the windows of a suite on the seventh floor.
Pistilli said firefighters used a ladder unit to access the suite after arriving at the scene.
"There was heavy fire involvement on the seventh floor, flames coming out of the building," he said. "A lot of heat and smoke and flame in the stairwell as well."
Fire not suspicious
Around 40 people were displaced during the evacuation.
Two people were taken to hospital with minor smoke inhalation and burns.
"There was one female in the suite; she woke up, tried to knock down the fire herself, but then evacuated [the suite]," said Pistilli.
"She has minor burns ... other than that, everybody has been accounted for," said Pistilli.
The fire is not being considered suspicious, but an investigation will take place in the morning.
Crews contained the fire to the suite of origin, but the rest of building suffered heavy water and fire damage.
Pistilli said it "could be months" before the building is livable again.
