Three firefighters were injured in a series of fires east of Vancouver Thursday morning that started at a new housing complex.
The initial blaze is believed to have started at a townhouse development still under construction at Emerson and Como Lake Road, close to the Burnaby-Coquitlam border, around 9:45 a.m.
Crews from the Coquitlam Fire Department arrived to find the construction fully involved. Six teams in total were called out to fight the fire, including several crews from Burnaby Fire.
In Pictures: Coquitlam condo fire
The fire jumped to several houses shortly after it ignited, destroying a neighbouring duplex, and causing a total of five roof fires.
One of these fires was several blocks away from the construction project. It is believed embers from the intensely hot fire traveled several blocks to ignite the home's roof.
The cause is still under "active investigation," but officials say they will be looking at the construction of the building and whether crews were doing any roofing at the time.
One firefighter was taken to hospital for injuries sustained during the fire and another two were treated at the scene.
Plumes of smoke rising above the fires could be seen from several kilometres away.
Several nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution.
