A woman in her 60s died after an apartment fire on Richmond Road in Saanich that left two other residents in the hospital with unconfirmed injuries.

Fire crews received a call around 4:30 a.m. on Friday for a structure fire in the 2600-block of Richmond Road where crews were met with heavy smoke and flames pouring out of a fourth floor balcony.

According to Saanich Fire captain and public information officer Jerry Tomljenovic, crews performed four separate ladder rescues on various balconies and then proceeded to fight the fire.

RELATED:

Tomljenovic says six units were directly affected and 18 units were affected by smoke and water damage with investigators still on scene.

Im told crews are still inside battling the blaze.

B次元官网网址� kendra crighton (@kendracrighton)

The woman who died was found in the hallway of the fourth floor and later succumbed to her injuries.

According to Tomljenovic approximately 50 people were evacuated and all displaced residents are at the Cedar Hill Recreation Centre where food, clothing and lodging is being issued until they are allowed back inside.

The two other people taken to hospital were suffering from smoke inhalation and are currently under further assessment.

BREAKING: Nishi Lakhwara is a resident at an early morning apartment fire on Richmond Road. She says they were evacuated at around 4:20 a.m

B次元官网网址� kendra crighton (@kendracrighton)

Saanich Det. Sgt. Damian Kowalewich told the media police officers in the detective division, the forensic team and the patrol unit are all involved with the investigation although he could not say whether the fire was suspicious.

READ ALSO:

IB次元官网网址檓 told residents wonB次元官网网址檛 be let back inside for awhile as crews expect to be on scene for the next several hours.

B次元官网网址� kendra crighton (@kendracrighton)

B次元官网网址淎ny time anybody perishes in a fire itB次元官网网址檚 very significant,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t impacts that family, it impacts that neighbourhood and it impacts the community. We obviously take it very seriously thatB次元官网网址檚 why weB次元官网网址檙e working here with our partner agencies weB次元官网网址檙e looking into this as deeply as we can to make sure cover everything.B次元官网网址�

When pressed on whether he thought this fire was connected to a recent string of suspicious fires Kowalewich said any time thereB次元官网网址檚 a series of crimes, officers investigate every angle to make sure they havenB次元官网网址檛 missed anything.

The investigation which involves police crews, fire crews and the B.C. CoronerB次元官网网址檚 Service, will involve looking at video surveillance, speaking to the occupants B次元官网网址� especially the ones living closest to the centre of the fire B次元官网网址� and speaking to anyone who may have been in the area at the time.

An update on the fire is expected to come this weekend.