RCMP investigate suspicious fire in Coquitlam
By Contributor
Shortly after midnight on Tuesday (July 9) the Coquitlam RCMP, Coquitlam Fire Department and the BC Ambulance Service were dispatched to a house fire in the 1100 block of Cottonwood Avenue.
Witnesses in the area noticed smoke coming from the home and entered in an attempt to help anyone inside, however, they were overcome by the smoke and exited.
The Coquitlam Fire Department entered the home and located two individuals inside the residence. A man and a woman were pulled from the home and all attempts to revive them were unsuccessful and they were pronounced deceased at the scene.
Although an autopsy result will be required to determine the cause of death for both individuals, the deaths are suspicious in nature and the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has been called in to lead this investigation.
The Coroner also attended the scene this morning and both bodies were removed from the location just before 11 a.m.
“Further examination and scene processing will take place throughout the day today in order to answer some of the questions that investigators have in the initial stages,” said RCMP Sgt Jennifer Pound.
“Although the identity of the man and woman will have to be confirmed during autopsy, investigators believe we know who they are and we are in the process of locating and notifying family members.”
The identity of the individuals will be released once the family has been notified.
Cause of death may be released once the autopsy is complete.
