One found dead in White Rock commercial building fire early Thursday morning
Fire crews discovered a body in the mechanical room of Sunlight Market on Marine Drive. Cause of death remains unclear as coroner and RCMP lead the investigation.
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Fire crews responded to Sunlight Market on the 15700-block of Marine Drive in White Rock around 6:15 a.m. Thursday, October 8, after a fire broke out in the mechanical room at the rear of the building. The fire was extinguished quickly.
During efforts to check that the fire hadn't spread beyond the single room, crews discovered a body in the mechanical room. The deceased has not yet been identified as of Friday morning.
White Rock Fire Chief Brad Davie said it remains unclear whether the person died before or because of the fire. "Once we discovered it was a body, we only do what we need to do to make sure the scene's safe," Davie told the source.
The coroner and RCMP are leading the investigation. Fire investigation will begin after those agencies complete their work. Davie said: "We probably won't be able to draw our conclusions until the coroner's finished, the police are finished."
No evacuations were required. Firefighters temporarily restricted access to a residential unit immediately above the market, though a check confirmed no one was home at the time of the fire. BC Hydro briefly cut power to 15 customers in the 15700-block of Marine and 800-block of Kent Street.
The facts
Where did the fire occur?
The fire broke out in the mechanical room at the rear of Sunlight Market, located on the 15700-block of Marine Drive in White Rock.
When did fire crews respond?
Fire crews responded to Sunlight Market around 6:15 a.m. on Thursday, October 8, 2026.
Who is leading the investigation?
The coroner and RCMP are leading the investigation. Fire investigation will begin after those agencies complete their work.
