One man is dead after a fire early Monday at a Port Alberni home.
Port Alberni RCMP responded just after midnight to the Ian Avenue residence.
Two people who happened to be walking past helped a pair of people get to safety, but another man could not be saved.
“This is an absolutely tragic event that has ended in the worst way,” said Const. Richard Johns. “Our thoughts are with the family of the deceased.
“We thank the passersby who helped the residents escape this fire.”
Port Alberni Fire Chief Mike Owens said there were multiple 911 calls about the blaze, and crews arrived to find heavy fire on the front of the structure.
They were told a man was down outside the rear of the home and efforts were made to resuscitate him.
The RCMP determined that one resident was upstairs in the home and another was downstairs. The person upstairs came down and was helping the other resident when the passersby stepped in and saw they had made it outside.
Firefighters and B.C. Ambulance paramedics were unable to revive the other resident.
Police said that a preliminary investigation indicated the fire wasn’t suspicious.
The B.C. Coroners Service is conducting an investigation.
