Coquitlam RCMP and IHIT are investigating whether a car fire on Thomas Avenue Tuesday night is related to a shooting a few blocks away off Brunette Avenue that left a man dead.
IHIT spokesperson Sgt. Jennifer Pound said the calls to Coquitlam fire department and Coquitlam RCMP came in very close together at around 11 p.m. Tuesday.
The vehicle of unknown make was fully engulfed in the 1500 block of Thomas Avenue when the fire department arrived, and Chief Wade Pierlot said firefighters were worried about the blaze spreading because grass and trees were on fire.
"That was some of our concern," Pierlot said.
He said the car was substantially burned. A joint investigation between the fire department and police will determine the cause of the blaze, he said.
"We always have a fire investigator attend. They will be working closely with the RCMP's fire investigator and would collaborate and work together.
