Man dies in Surrey basement fire after smoke alarm disconnected

First responders were unable to revive a man found unresponsive in a burning Surreybasement suiteFriday night.

Surrey Battalion Chief Rich Ellis said crews were told there was a possibility that someone was still inside the suite, as they approached the 15600block of 82 Avenue around 12:30 a.m. PT Saturday.

"They did go in and they did find one person inside. They pulled him out and started resuscitationon him," said Ellis."All we know at this point is he was unresponsive when we took him out of the house."

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Unfortunately,efforts to save the 50-year-oldman were unsuccessful.

In a news release later in the day, Surrey fire officials said the smoke alarm in the basement suite had been disconnected. It was found on top of the refrigerator.

"Tragically this deathmay have been preventable," said Assistant Fire Chief Steve Robinson. "Working smoke alarms increase your chance of survival in a fire by74 per cent.

Robinson saidthe fire was likely caused by the man's"smoking materials."