One person died on New Year's Day in a house fire in Surrey.
Mounties say four occupants of the house escaped and are being treated for non-life threatening injuries.
A fifth person was found dead inside the home.
Investigators say the cause of the fire is still under investigation and they are asking anyone with information to call the R-C-M-P.
Dr. Theresa Tam said the efforts made to slow the spread where the virus is surging appear to be working. She said hard lessons must be learned about the risks of removing public health measures too soon, particularly in areas where not enough people have been vaccinated.
The Liberal government announced this week that core public servants, including members and reservists of the RCMP, must be vaccinated or face suspension without pay as early as Nov. 15.
Politicians accustomed to sparring in British Columbia's legislature have joined forces outside the house to push for higher vaccination rates in the north, but a longtime member of the Opposition Liberals says the "Alberta influence" is a factor in a part of B.C. where intensive care units can't accommodate the influx of COVID-19 patients.
The victim, a 22-year-old South Vancouver resident, was waiting at a bus stop near Knight Street and East 57 Avenue on October 5, when she was approached by a stranger in a red puffy jacket with a fur-lined hood.
The man was arrested, and is currently in custody, with a court date on October 13, 2021. He is considered to be a prolific property crime offender. Police have recommended a number of charges to Crown for consideration, including assault causing bodily harm and break and enter.
Police believe this was a targeted incident and not a random act. Aside from the danger the fire posed, police do not believe there was any further risk to the general public in relation to this incident.