Man dies in Surrey house fire

Surrey Fire Services says a house fire in the Panorama Ridge area Monday morning turned fatal.

The fire broke out at a detached home on 56 Avenue near 128 Street, with crews reportedly arriving to significant flames and smoke.

Assistant Chief Geoff McIntyre says a team of 24 firefighters worked to knock down the fire, containing it to one structure, and searched the home until they were forced out.

He says crews found the body of one occupant. The Surrey Police Service (SPS) later confirmed that the victim was an adult man.

“Interior searching had to be discontinued shortly after that due to a roof collapse and structural instability,” McIntyre explained.

Without the ability to search the home, McIntyre says it’s not yet known if anyone else has died inside.

He says firefighters were still on scene as of 9:30 a.m.

“Crews have worked hard to get the fire knocked down. They’re just extinguishing hot spots at the moment. They’ll remain on scene for a while.”

The SPS’s Serious Crime Unit, BC Coroner’s Service, and fire investigators are now working to determine the cause of the fire and if the death is considered suspicious.

Police are asking anyone with information about the fire to contact the non-emergency line at 604-599-0502 and quote file number 26-3704 (SP).

—With files from Dean Recksiedler