North Vancouver RCMP say 2 family members are dead following an early morning fire at a Lynn Valley housing complex in North Vancouver.
In a news release, RCMP said there are approximately 12 other people who were sent to several hospitals in the Lower Mainland.
"There's a wide range of some serious injuries, smoke inhalation, there's burns," said District of North Vancouver fire Chief Brian Hutchinson.
More than 150 people were forced out of their homes in four buildings of the Mountain Village Garden Apartments complex.
Firefighters arrived around 2:30 a.m. PT and found one of the four buildings in the multi-residential complex on fire.
All I can smell is fire in this complex in Lynn Valley as crews continue to battle the early morning blaze that killed 2 and sent at least 16 to hospital <a href="https://twitter.com/cbcnewsbc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cbcnewsbc</a> <a href="https://t.co/b0EwAamKk8">pic.twitter.com/b0EwAamKk8</a>
—@Zahra_PremjiResident Terry Wagman described a scene of panic and chaos just before firefighters arrived.
"Everyone was just running everywhere, trying to make sure everyone was OK," he said. "All I could see was orange flames shooting way up in the air, 30 feet [nine metres] in the air."
One witness, Siva Chavali, filmed an explosion during the blaze:
Chief Hutchinson said the fire progressed rapidly in one of the buildings, where it started on the first floor, and quickly engulfed the second floor.
There is extensive damage to the 17 units of that building according to RCMP.
"This could have got so much worse … they saved a lot of people's lives and a lot more damage could have happened if they hadn't been so quick and so active in the way they pursued this," Wagman said.
About 70 residents have been permanently displaced from their homes.
"We have yet to determine whether the smoke alarms in the units were properly functioning," said Hutchinson.
Residents of the three buildings that weren't severely affected by the fire were allowed back into their homes.
The cause of the fire hasn't been determined. The age and identities of the victims have not been released.