North Vancouver RCMP say one woman is dead following a house fire in the Queensbury neighbourhood Friday night.
The blaze on the 400 block of Queensbury Avenue broke out just before midnight, according to North Vancouver City Fire Department chief Greg Schalk.
It was a relatively small fire, which was quickly put out, but the house was fully charged with heavy smoke, Schalk said.
“Unfortunately, while they were [putting out the fire], they came across the victim. They were able to bring the victim out. Fire crews along with ambulance crews did perform some lifesaving interventions but sadly, we weren’t able to bring her back,” Schalk said.
The victim, a woman in her 30s, lived alone in a suite inside the house. Her family is receiving help from the RCMP’s victim services unit.
A post shared on social media by the victim’s family identifies her as Lindsay Emma Bailey.
“She had the absolute biggest heart and the best sense of humour. She was, and still is, loved beyond belief. You have left a huge hole in our hearts,” a post written by her sister stated on Monday.
Bailey was a care aid who worked for Vancouver Coastal Health.
Three other people who live in a separate suite within the home have been displaced. They are receiving the assistance of North Shore Emergency Management, Schalk said.
North Vancouver RCMP spokesperson Const. Mansoor Sahak said there is nothing to indicate the fire was suspicious in nature, but they will conduct an in-depth investigation before anything is ruled out.
“We have to investigate it thoroughly to determine what happened. I think we owe it to the victim to determine what happened and we’re working in partnership with the fire department,” he said.
Sahak said they are hoping to hear from any members of the public who saw what happened.
“If anybody was in the area or has video from a dashcam or anything like that, call us,” he said. “Any little information helps.”
