An entire apartment block was lost on Saturday morning in a fire that left several Squamish residents homeless just weeks before Christmas.
Police and fire fighters were called to the 40000-block of Government Road at about 5:00 a.m. with reports that a two-storey complex was on fire.
When crews arrived, the entire building was engulfed in flames.
Miraculously, no one was harmed in the fire, said Cpl. Dave Ritchie, though the building's residents lost virtually all of their belongings.
"All eight units were housing couples or families. They've all been displaced, all of their possessions and their vehicles are gone," Ritchie said.
"One man I talked to today said he got out as the fire was licking his pajamas, and those are all he got out with."
Five homes from a neighbouring complex were also heavily damaged by smoke, though authorities expect they will be livable again after being ventilated.
Ritchie said the blaze is currently considered suspicious due to eyewitness reports police have received.
"It's premature to say it's intentional, or an arson, until we can confirm things that were seen and heard by witnesses."
Anyone with information on the fire is asked to call Squamish RCMP at 604-892-6100 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
