'Mental health incident' blamed for Burnaby B.C. house fire
Police negotiated with a distressed man who allegedly set the house ablaze
A frightened family of six and another resident of a Burnaby house fled Saturday night when a fire forced everybody onto the street.
Police said a distressed man living in the home near the 7200-block of 11th Ave. set a fire and needed coaxing out of his own home to safety. Nobody was seriously hurt, and the alleged fire setter was taken into custody.
He was not identified.
Neighbor Yasser Chahin was in his upstairs suite, with his wife and four young children, when he heard voices outside his home around 11 p.m. PT.
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Chahin opened the door to see what was going on and was met by a Burnaby RCMP officer, one of several, urging residents to evacuate fast.
No it's not a medical, it's a fire now!- Burnaby Assistant Chief Rick Weir
Police had received a phone call from Chahin's downstairs neighbour. The man was in distress and making threats, according to police.
"RCMP requested Burnaby Fire attend for a medical emergency and we were put on a standby, a wait order," said Assistant Fire Chief Rick Weir. "The police waved them in, so our crews started responding with their medical gear and [the police] started screaming, 'No it's not a medical, it's a fire now!'"
Police negotiated man to safety
Weir said smoke and flames came of the the left side of the building, as a downstairs kitchen became engulfed in fire.
"So, it was a mental health issue. The gentleman living in the one basement suite lit the suite on fire," said Weir.
Police were able to negotiate the distressed man out of the building to safety. He was taken into police custody.
Firefighters got the flames under control after fire gutted one suite. The other two units were smoke damaged, but the house remained standing.
I was worried about my family
Fire officials are unsure when Chahin, his family and other residents can return home.
Chahin was shocked by the incident, as he'd lived at the house for a year with no problems from his "friendly" downstairs neighbor.
Chahin and his family will get help from Burnaby's Emergency Support Services until they can return to the house.
"Of course I was worried about my family and my home," said Chahin." I rent it, but it's still my home. All my things are inside."
