Domestic dispute house fire in Port Moody kills mother of 6 children

One woman is dead and six children are without a mother following a domestic dispute that led to a house fire in Port Moody.

According to police, the incident occurred just before 1:30 pm on Sunday at a home located on the 3300 block of Dewdney Trunk Road. Officers who arrived at the scene found the home engulfed in flames, which prompted them to retrieve the two parents who were still inside the home.

Five of their six children, ranging between the ages of five and 18, were at home during the domestic dispute. Before first responders arrived at the scene, the children were able to escape the fire by leaving the home from the second floor.

An adult female, the wife and mother, sustained serious burns to her body and later succumbed to her injuries in hospital just after 6 pm. Her husband, the father of the children, was arrested at the scene and remains in police custody.

Fire rescue was also called to contain the blaze. Port Moody Police is now working with Metro Vancouver’s Integrated Homicide Investigation Team to comb the scene, seek witnesses, and determine the circumstances of the alleged homicide.

“This incident is one that is tragic beyond words,” said RCMP Staff Sergeant Jennifer Pound in a statement. “Despite the intensity of the fire, the children, with assistance from the general public, managed to escape the burning home with minimal physical injuries. Thank you to the public who assisted with this rescue.”

Police have not revealed the name of the victim as they are still in the process of notifying the next of kin.