The BC Coroners’ Service has confirmed that a woman in her 60s was killed in the fire that tore through an apartment complex Wednesday night.
Flames broke out in a third floor unit of a building in the 2400-block of Countess Street around 10:30 p.m.
Upon arrival, firefighters found two units in the building completely engulfed, and a number of tenants trapped on their balconies.
Crews performed multiple ladder rescues from the upper floor, and escorted several people out of the building from first and second floor units.
WATCH: Jennifer Palma reports from the scene of the fire
Once the fire was under control, firefighters say they found the victim in her apartment and handed her off to paramedics who attempted to revive her.
“It was kind of heartbreaking, seeing somebody come out of a fire like that, but you couldn’t really see what was going on. You could see someone doing chest compressions,” said complex resident Russel Wilson.
BC Coroners Service spokesperson Andy Watson said coroners have now begun a fact-finding investigation to determine the circumstances around the woman’s death.
According to Abbotsford police, the fire does not appear to be suspicious.
However, the Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service and Abbotsford Police Department Major Crime Detectives remained on scene Thursday and continued to investigate.
It remains unclear how the fire started.
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