Vancouver fire department's hazardous material response team worked all day Sunday to de-contaminate a Kitsilano residence after an apparant illegal drug lab was uncovered on Saturday. (CBC)Members of a hazardous materials response team spent Sunday de-contaminating a condominium complex in Vancouver after firefighters found a man's body in an apparent drug lab on Saturday.
An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of his death, but the 44-year-old likely died after inhaling toxic chemical fumes, Const. Tim Fanning, a spokesperson for the Vancouver Police Department, told CBC News on Sunday.
The identity of the deceased man has not been released but police said he lived in the condo.
About 25 residents evacuated from the Kitsilano complex in the 2500 block of Balsam Street were expected to return home Sunday night, Patti Bacchus, a spokesperson for the building's management company, said Sunday.
Vancouver fire crews found a drug lab inside a home in the 2500 block of Balsam Street after discovering a body inside on Saturday. (CBC)Fire crews responded to a medical emergency at a suite on the third floor of the three-storey complex at 5:50 p.m. Saturday, police said.
"Our crews arrived and entered a suite and found a deceased person inside. Our investigation of the suite discovered it was a potential drug lab," Jeff Dighton, Vancouver's fire battalion chief, told reporters on Saturday.
"There are several beakers, tubes and a variety of other wires but it appears to be a homegrown lab of some sort — not as sophisticated as what we've seen in the past," Insp. Dave Nelmes said Saturday.
The police drug squad and the hazardous materials response team went to the scene and residents were evacuated.
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