The BC Coroners Service confirms a woman in her 60's died in the fire that burned the top floor of a 4-storey apartment building in Esquimalt.
Flames and smoke could be seen pouring from the building in the 800 block of Craigflower Road just before 4pm Sunday.
Witnesses say a woman appeared trapped on a fourth floor balcony. According to witnesses, some bystanders stretched out a blanket underneath and tried, unsuccessfully, to get her to jump. "A lady came out of her suite, was on the balcony, and she didn't want to jump down so she laid down flat. Then we saw flames on her," said one woman.
On Monday morning, The BC Coroners Service said they were beginning an investigation into the death but had no addition details to share at this time.
The other residents were rescued, some with minor injuries.
The fire itself was put out in about 30-minutes with help from multiple neighbouring fire departments. The cause is still under investigation.