Arson suspected in Burnaby, B.C., fire that displaced around 100 people

An intense fire that broke out at a Burnaby, B.C., condo building overnight – displacing around 100 residents – is being investigated as a possible arson.

Burnaby RCMP provided the update early Tuesday afternoon, but did not provide any further details on the suspected cause of the fire.

CTV News has obtained CCTV footage captured from a home across the street from the low-rise building near Kingsway and Jersey Avenue. Just after 12:25 a.m., two people can be seen approaching the front doors of the building. They hang around the entrance way for a few minutes before flames start to erupt, the individuals then take off, before an explosion is heard.

The Burnaby Fire Department arrived minutes later and would battle the fire through the night, before finally getting the blaze under control at around 6 a.m.

A few residents were hospitalized for smoke inhalation, but it does not appear anyone was seriously hurt.

However, Asst. Chief Gavin Summers said part of the building remains unaccounted for.

“This fire was extremely aggressive, the firefighters, although they went in and were aggressive in their firefighting, it became quickly apparent that floors were collapsing and they had to withdraw,” he said.

Summers said they’ll have to bring in heavy machinery to clear the area.

Residents were evacuated to the nearby Bonsor Recreation Centre.

Legal Dispute

While authorities haven’t disclosed any possible motive for the suspected arson, court records show that the sale of the building, known as Cameray Gardens, was the subject of a legal battle.

2024 BCSC 405 (CanLII) | 1038573 B.C. Ltd. v The Owners, Strata Plan NW289 | CanLII

Documents show that a $61 million deal that was reached between the strata and a numbered company back in December of 2022 went sideways.

Multiple residents who declined to be interviewed told CTV News they were notified on Monday that the sale had finally gone through.

“Our team will definitely look into that," Burnaby RCMP Cpl. Mike Kalanj told CTV News.

"First and foremost were looking to find the suspects, and then anything like motive will be part of our investigation for sure,”

The RCMP asked anyone with information to contact the Burnaby detachment at 604-646-9999.