70-year-old man dies after fire in B.C. alley: RCMP

This undated stock photo shows a fire line set up at a scene. (Credit: Shutterstock)

A man who lit a fire in an alleyway behind a business last week in B.C.’s Kootenay region was engulfed by the flames and died from his injuries, according to authorities.

Last Thursday around 1 a.m., first responders in Castlegar were called to the scene of a fire behind a business on the 1700 block of Columbia Avenue, the RCMP said in a statement.

“Upon attendance the fire was active, engulfing a male and personal items on the ground,” the Castlegar detachment wrote in the statement.

“The fire was extinguished and the 70-year-old Castlegar man was transported to hospital where he unfortunately succumbed to injuries.”

An initial review of surveillance video shows the man lit the fire himself “potentially for light or warmth,” Mounties said.

Police said they are are assisting the fire department and coroner’s service with the investigation.