'Mental health incident' blamed for Burnaby B.C. house fire

A frightened family of six and another resident ofa Burnaby house fled Saturday night when afire forced everybody onto the street.

Police saida distressed man living in the home near the 7200-block of 11th Ave. set a fire and needed coaxing out ofhis own home to safety. Nobody was seriously hurt, and the alleged fire setter was taken into custody.

He was not identified.

Neighbor Yasser Chahin was in his upstairs suite, with his wife and four young children, when he heard voices outside his home around 11 p.m. PT.

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Chahin opened the door to see what was going on andwas met by aBurnaby RCMP officer, one of several, urging residents to evacuate fast.

No it's not a medical, it's a fire now!- Burnaby Assistant Chief Rick Weir

Police had received a phone call from Chahin's downstairs neighbour. The man was in distress and making threats, according to police.

"RCMPrequestedBurnabyFire attend for a medical emergency and we were put on a standby, a wait order," said Assistant Fire Chief Rick Weir. "The police waved them in,so our crews started respondingwith their medical gear and [the police]started screaming, 'No it's not a medical, it's a fire now!'"

Police negotiated man to safety

Weir said smoke and flames came of the the left side of the building, as a downstairs kitchen became engulfed in fire.

"So, it was a mental health issue.The gentleman living in the one basement suite lit the suite on fire," saidWeir.

Police were able to negotiate the distressed man out of the building to safety. Hewas taken into police custody.

Firefighters got the flames under control after firegutted one suite. The other two units were smoke damaged, but the house remained standing.

I was worried about my family

Fire officials are unsure whenChahin, his family and other residents can return home.

Chahin was shocked by the incident, as he'd lived at the house for a year withno problems from his "friendly" downstairs neighbor.

Chahinand his family will get help from Burnaby's Emergency Support Services until they can return to the house.

"Of course I was worried about my family and my home," saidChahin."I rent it, but it's still my home. All my things are inside."