Man dies after being pulled from Burnaby duplex fire

A man has died after being pulled from a burning duplex in Burnaby on Wednesday evening.

Burnaby assistant fire Chief Stew Colbourne said crews were called to the home at 8166 16th Avenue around 5:30 p.m.

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They arrived on scene to find thick, black smoke pouring from the building.

Colbourne said crews were able to get inside and pull one man out.

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He said the man had inhaled a significant amount of smoke.

“The highly skilled, highly trained crew first arriving was instrumental in a successful outcome in getting this patient out as quickly as possible,” Colbourne said.

He said firefighters performed first aid on the victim before handing him off to BC Ambulance Service paramedics, and added that the man was unconscious but breathing when taken to hospital.

Burnaby RCMP said the 55-year-old man passed away in hospital Thursday morning.

Colbourne said crews searched the unit, and that there were no other occupants inside.

The other half of the duplex was not seriously damaged, but a family of five will be temporarily displaced, he said.

The fire was briefly upgraded to a second alarm, but crews were able to quickly knock it down.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but Colbourne said there is no early indication of suspicious circumstances or that Halloween fireworks were involved.

RCMP said they are not treating the death as suspicious.