A former North Vancouver city councillor and his adult child died in a house fire early Thursday.
Mayor Linda Buchanan confirmed former councillor Robert (Bob) Fearnley perished in the fire. Global News has learned his child, Gayle, was the other victim.
“Bob was an active member of our community and dedicated many years to public service, having served on city council from 1996 to 2011,” Buchanan said.
“Flags across the City will fly at half-mast in recognition and remembrance.
“On behalf of council, I want to extend my deepest condolences to the friends and families across the North Shore who are grieving this tragic loss.”
A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family with clothes and essentials.
The fire broke out around 3 a.m. in the 4000 block of Delbrook Avenue.
Police said several people were able to escape from the home, but that two bodies were found inside once the flames were extinguished.
The status of the people rescued from the home is not known at this time.
“I woke up to an explosion sound, more than two or three times,” neighbour Ramin Haghaghi told Global News.
We are in the very early stages of this investigation,
Const. Mansoor Sahak of the North Vancouver RCMP said in a release.
The cause of the fire remains unknown but the District of North Vancouver Fire Rescue Services said it appears the fire started on the south side of the home.
When crews arrived the house was fully involved and there were some arcing wires.
More than half of the house was burned and the rest of the house suffered extensive smoke and water damage, fire crews confirmed.
“When crews arrived the house was significantly involved at that time,” Brian Hutchinson, chief of the District of North Vancouver Fire & Rescue Services said in a press conference.
“They were able to take defensive action to work to extinguish the structure and unfortunately, were unable to alter the outcome.”
Two cars in the driveway of the home also caught fire.
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