A Richmond family is mourning the loss of one of its elderly members, who died in a house fire in the early hours of Sunday.
At around 12:40 a.m., firefighters were called to a residence in the 5700-block of Riverdale Drive in the Thompson area of north Richmond, where a bedroom in the home was engulfed in flames.
The blaze was put out before it spread to the rest of the house, but the room’s occupant died.
A neighbour, two doors down from the house, said the man, who was in his 70s, was a relative.
The woman, who declined to give her name, told the Richmond News the victim was her uncle and that the three other members of the family who managed to escape the fire and were later treated for smoke inhalation were in shock and mourning their loss.
The woman said she was not home at the time of the incident, but believes the fire may have started as the result of an overturned lamp.
As of the News’ deadline on Tuesday afternoon, Richmond Fire Rescue officials had yet to release any early findings from their investigation.
On the night of the fire, fire rescue officials said the occupants of the home did try to reach the victim, but were not successful.
On Monday afternoon, Richmond RCMP and fire rescue investigative crews were wrapping up their day and expected to be back for at least one more.
Earlier on Monday, the RCMP said they’re not considering the death as suspicious.
Spokesman Cpl. Dennis Hwang told the News initial results from their investigation do not point to any foul play.
