‘Suspicious, targeted’ Surrey fire displaces residents

Police in Surrey are looking for two suspects who are believed to have started a suspicious and “targeted” house fire in the city’s Newton neighbourhood early Wednesday morning.

The Surrey Police Service says just before 1:45 a.m., officers received reports of a house fire along 64 Avenue near 134 Street.

“Officers quickly arrived and encountered two vehicles and the front of a house on fire, and active explosions happening. Residents of a basement suite were able to safely be evacuated but officers were advised about two upstairs residents,” Staff Sgt. Lindsey Houghton explained.

“Officers ran to the back of the house that was quickly becoming engulfed in flames and managed to crawl through a small opening in a glass door they were able to break.”

Houghton says police were able to search the upper floor of the house and managed to rescue two elderly residents.

“One of the residents was able to be escorted out the rear of the house, but the other had to be carried out by both officers. As the second officer ran back in the rear of the burning house to look for more residents, Surrey Fire Service firefighters had arrived and were able to enter through the front,” Houghton said.

Eight residents were evacuated due to the fire, police say, and all were treated for smoke inhalation by BC Emergency Health Services. According to Houghton, there were no further injuries.

“SPS and Surrey Fire Service arson investigators will be returning this morning to continue the investigation to determine the cause; however, at this early stage, it is believed that the fire is suspicious and targeted,” Houghton said.

“Two suspects, both believed to be male, were seen at the front of the residence near the vehicles at the time the fire is believed to have started at approximately 1:38 am. Two dark-coloured sedans were seen driving away southbound on 134A Street.”

Police are urging anyone who may have witnessed the fire or who may have dashcam footage to come forward to police and contact the SPS non-emergency line at 604-599-0502.