Three people have died in a fire at a Prince George, B.C., hotel that firefighters are calling suspicious.
Fire crews were called to the Econo Lodge at 910 Victoria St. just after 9 a.m., to find flames and thick smoke pouring from the building.
Three bodies were found in the hotel around 12:30 p.m., police said.
BC Coroners Service spokesperson Andy Watson said coroners were notified of the incident Wednesday afternoon and were in the early stages of investigating.
“We are investigating to determine who died, and to investigate how, where, when and by what means,” he said.
The Prince George RCMP’s Serious Crime Section is now leading the case.
At least one person at the scene could be seen receiving medical attention.
The fire, which badly damaged one wing of the hotel, forced the closure of several streets in downtown Prince George, including a stretch of Highway 16.
No word yet on the cause of the fire.