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Foul play not suspected in Tsawwassen fire death

 

The cause of the blaze is still under investigation

 
By Jessica Kerr, The Delta Optimist July 19, 2012
 
 
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One person died in the fire at the Tsawwassen Terrace apartment building Friday, July 13. A police investigation has deemed that the death was not suspicious. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation.

Photograph by: Denis Beauvais , for Delta Optimist

No foul play is suspected in the death of one person in last Friday's apartment fire in Tsawwassen.

Delta police spokesperson Sgt. Cal Traversy said Thursday morning that the investigation into the death has been concluded and foul play is not suspected.

The name of the victim has not yet been released and, Traversy said, the coroner's office is still carrying out its investigation.

The investigation into the cause of the blaze is also still ongoing.

Delta fire crews were called to the Tsawwassen Terrace apartment building in the 5500-block of 16th Avenue just before 2 a.m. last Friday. Deputy fire chief Ken Sim said the fire started in an apartment on the second level and quickly spread to adjoining units. Crews were able to contain the fire to a few suites, however, in all 13 suites were damaged by either the fire or smoke and water.

Resident Jaime Walks said he was awoken at around 1:30 a.m. by some noise coming from a neighbouring suite. He said he heard a loud bump and some other noise but went back to sleep. Walks said he woke up again at around 1:50 a.m. to the sound of a window breaking and at that point went out on his balcony to investigate - that's when he saw flames shooting out of the neighbouring suite.

He said he went back inside to get dressed and grab his wallet and keys. By this time his suite was starting to fill with smoke.

Walks said residents worked together to make sure everyone was getting out. Some banged on doors to alert their neighbours while others helped elderly residents get out of the building.

"I lost everything," he said.

Walks, who said he is currently staying with family, is not alone.

While some residents are being allowed into the building to collect their belongings, no one is permitted to move back in at this time and Tsawwassen Terrace residents are left looking for new homes.

Century Group, which owns the building, is assisting some residents with relocating due to the limited number of vacancies in other apartment buildings in the community. The company has also housed a small number of residents at the Coast Tsawwassen Inn in the short term.

A trust account has been started to raise funds to help all Tsawwassen Terrace residents with the costs of relocation and other hardships. Donations to the Victims of Tsawwassen Terrace Fire fund can be made through the RBC Royal Bank's Tsawwassen branch.

Tsawwassen Town Centre Mall is hosting a fundraiser to benefit the victims of the fire. The mall is selling reusable shopping bags for $5 each with all proceeds going to the fund. The bags are available at Sublime Art Supplies and Gallery.

As well, Century Group is hosting a drop off location for a limited number of donations of furniture, clothing and other household items for the residents of six suites who lost most of their possessions in the fire. Donations can be dropped off at the former Southpointe Academy site, which is located at 1741 56th Avenue in Tsawwassen, on Mondays and Tuesdays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. until July 31.

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One person died in the fire at the Tsawwassen Terrace apartment building Friday, July 13. A police investigation has deemed that the death was not suspicious. The c

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