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Update Nootka St fire: crews have initial knockdown, 1 adult & 1 child with burns, still searching home - photos by Ryan Stelting pic.twitter.com/t3lDOYffWO — Van Fire Fighters (@IAFF18) January 5, 2017

“Five had been transported to hospital with various degrees of burns and smoke inhalation and unfortunately, there is one deceased person,” he confirmed.

The fire was knocked down by about 4 p.m., but crews remained at the scene into Thursday evening to investigate. Gormick said it would be some time before a cause for the fire could be confirmed.

“We’ve got about 45 staff on scene at this time and we’re accompanied by Vancouver police and B.C. Ambulance as well,” said Gormick. “Road conditions were challenging but we had no problems accessing the residence.”

Photo by MELISSA BRINDLEY / PNG

Melissa Brindley and her family were in the area for lunch earlier when they passed by the neighbourhood and spotted black smoke. Brindley said when she and her husband parked near the home, first responders had not yet arrived and there was already a small crowd forming on the sidewalks.

Brindley said she didn’t hear any screaming and assumed the occupants were able to escape, though she later learned at least one person had died in the fire.

“There was flames and smoke, very bad flames,” she said. “We just heard a lot of glass smashing and the smoke smelled like plastic. It was very, very rough.”

Photo by Ryan Stelting

Photo by Ryan Stelting

Photo by MELISSA BRINDLEY / PNG

Photo by Mark van Manen / PNG

Photo by Ryan Stelting / Submitted

Photo by Ryan Stelting

Photo by Ryan Stelting

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