Sara Norman | Email news tips to sara.norman@corusent.com
2/17/2013
UPDATE 10:17am: Burnaby fire officials say 35 families are homeless. A 19-year old man previously unaccounted for has been located.
A Burnaby apartment building has been levelled by fire.
The call came in at 12:30 a.m. -- and by 5:00 a.m. the building, on Smith Avenue near Canada Way, had been reduced to a pile of smoldering debris.
RCMP Corporal Scott Brusette says several people have been taken to hospital, but their conditions are not known.
"Honestly, I have nothing to give at this point. We don't know what started it or anything at this point."
Mike Fex lives in the building and called 9-1-1.
He spoke with CKNW News.
"I heard the alarm go off and I didn't think much of it. I went out to look out the window and it was just flames right next to me and below me...Flames shooting up at the apartment next door. I slammed the window and just started grabbing what i could and ran out. Before I even got out, thirty seconds later, there was smoke everywhere in my room."
Early word from fire officials is the blaze began in the basement of the building.
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