Duncan apartment fire investigation deemed suspicious after two deaths

A suspicious apartment fire in Duncan, British Columbia, has resulted in two deaths and the displacement of approximately 50 to 100 residents. The blaze broke out around 2:30 a.m. Friday at the Gala Vista apartments near the intersection of Government and College streets on Vancouver Island.

Emergency responders, including the Duncan Fire Department and mutual aid from North Cowichan and Cowichan Bay, conducted rescue operations to remove residents from smoke-filled units and balconies. Four individuals were transported to the hospital in stable condition.

The North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP Serious Crime Team is leading a joint investigation alongside the Office of the Fire Commissioner and BC Coroner Services to determine the cause of the fire, which authorities have classified as suspicious. Mayor Michelle Staples stated that the province is providing emergency support for displaced residents, though there is currently no timeline for when occupants can return to their homes.