Skip to content

Three families homeless after blaze

Richmond fire destroys new duplex, damages two other homes

Investigators aren't ruling out the possibility of arson after a fire ripped through a large under-construction duplex home Sunday morning and badly damaged two others.

Three families - at least six people - are now without a home after the blaze.

Richmond Fire Chief John McGowan said there wasn't anything "suspicious" about the two-alarm fire, but noted investigators will need to sift through all the rubble before ruling out arson.

Firefighters were called out to the scene around 1: 45 a.m. Sunday and arrived to find the construction site of a two-storey duplex near Francis and No. 2 roads about 75 per cent engulfed in flames.

According to McGowan, the wooden frame and wiring of the home was completed, along with some exterior installations such as doors and windows.

The house, which was being built by Bravado Homes, was destroyed. Two adjacent homes have also suffered significant damage.

"The building that was on fire is a total loss - it's just a pile of rubble," McGowan said.

Firefighters were still fighting hot spots around 5 a.m. Sunday. There were no injuries.

[email protected]