Coquitlam RCMP investigating suspicious fire in unoccupied building

Mounties are looking for video of, or witnesses to, a fire that destroyed and damaged several units in an unoccupied apartment building on the border of Burnaby and Coquitlam Sunday morning.

Coquitlam Fire and Rescue responded to reports of the fire on North Road near Como Lake Avenue — or Broadway in Burnaby — around 5 a.m.

“Upon arrival, crews encountered a significant fire involving multiple suites,” said a statement from the City of Coquitlam.

It adds that due to “unsafe conditions in areas beneath the active fire,” crews were unable to access portions of the building, and the fire had to be left to burn in places for several hours.

The city says the fire is considered suspicious because “the building has been unoccupied since a previous fire occurred almost exactly one year ago.”

In an update Tuesday, the Coquitlam RCMP says the cause is still under investigation.

“We are asking anyone who may have witnessed the fire or has video footage to contact Coquitlam RCMP,” said Acting Sgt. George Han.

Mounties added that the building was scheduled for demolition.

Anyone with information or relevant video is asked to call Coquitlam RCMP at 604-945-1550 and quote file number 2025-31475.