1 person dead, 70 displaced by North Vancouver apartment fire

One person is deadand 70 residents have been displaced in the aftermath of a fire at a seniors' housing complex in North Vancouver's Lynn Valley.

The fire broke out around 6 a.m. Tuesday at theSilverlynn Apartments on East 27 Street. When firefighters arrived, there was flame and smoke visible from the three-storey building.

Police saidcrewsquickly brought the fireunder control.

"Despite the heroic efforts of firefighters and other first responders, we are sadly now in the early stages of an investigation, in partnership with B.C. Coroners Serviceinto the death of one person," said Sgt. Peter DeVries of the North Vancouver RCMP.

Police are not releasing the victim's identity while family is being notified.

Tuesday afternoon, North Vancouver RCMPsaid they were investigating the death to determine whether any criminality was involved. Fire investigators had also arrived to begin work to determine thecause of the deadlyblaze.

Seventy residents of the facility are being registered with North Shore Emergency Management, theagency that providessupport services in natural disasters and fires. The program will arrange for hotel and food for the next 72 hours.

"They're dealing with some trauma right now, and we're providing that trauma-informed support for them," said DeVries.

It's not clear when residents will be able to return home.