North Vancouver fire displaces residents, years after fatal fire at same building

District of North Vancouver Fire Chief Mike Danks says it took fire crews from across the North Shore to bring a fire at a Lynn Valley seniors' complex under control. 

Danks says the call at Silverlynn Apartments came in just after 9:00 a.m. Saturday, and crews from the district, the city and from West Vancouver descended on the blaze, which was brought under control about 11 or 12 hours later. 

The fire chief says the building was the scene of a fatal fire a few years ago, and firefighters arrived at the scene to find heavy smoke and flames and several residents trapped on their balconies.

One person died in the previous blaze, which Danks says "basically destroyed the entire building." 

Danks says around 10 people were rescued Saturday before the blaze "exploded" and blew the roof from the building, which was partially occupied and under renovations from the earlier fire. 

Danks says the cause of the fire is unknown. Five people were treated by medical personnel at the scene, and two of those were brought to hospital in stable condition and released in the evening. 

"It literally took all of the North Shore at one point to help get this fire under control," he said. "It was a huge team effort."

Danks says there was an outpouring of support from local businesses that brought food and coffee, and North Shore Emergency Management officials have since managed to find temporary accommodations for 36 displaced residents.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns