Homicide investigators were called to Burnaby in the early hours of Thursday after crews extinguished a body ablaze in a park – it was initially thought to be just a brush fire.
At around 2:00 a.m. first responders arrived at Greentree Village Park, said assistant fire chief Greg Young. Police and ambulatory services were already on-scene.
“It was bush and grass fire that included a dead body,” explained Young. Crews put out the blaze using extinguishers, in order to preserve any potential evidence, he said.
The RCMP, who remain on-site, is now working with the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team to determine the events that took place.
The priority for investigators is to identify the human remains, said IHIT Det. Lara Jansen.
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“The circumstances surrounding the remains and the area were deemed to be suspicious,” Jansen said in a March 18 press release. The neighbourhood is believed to be used frequently even throughout the overnight hours.
Anyone with information is asked to call the IHIT tip line at 1-877-551-4448 or by emailing ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
Those that wish to report anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
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