Downtown Castlegar was shrouded in smoke Sunday morning as fire crews battled a house fire in the 600 block of 9th Avenue.
The incident was the third fire call the Castlegar Fire Department attended over the Victoria Day long weekend. There was a minor electrical structure fire on Friday. Around 5:30 a.m. on Sunday morning CFD put out an abandoned campfire that had spread to the surrounding landscape in the area behind the Dairy Queen near Woodland Park.
The house fire began around 8 a.m. and spread through the home quickly.
CFD attended the scene with five apparatus and 12 firefighters, according to fire chief Sam Lattanzio.
Upon arrival, CFD discovered that all of the home’s occupants and pets were out of the home and accounted for.
Incident command quickly assessed that the home was burning heavily on the northeast side of the structure with fire coming out from the windows and heavy smoke coming from around the eves and roof.
Rescue 1 deployed 2.5 in. and 1.75 in. attack lines to start knocking the fire down.
Ladder 1 used its platform-mounted deck gun to shoot water from above the roof.
Engine 2 approached the structure from the ally and deployed its deck gun to the rear of the property. Engine 1 picked up a hydrant for water supply.
There were no injuries to firefighters or occupants.
CFD turned control of the scene over to the home owners around 1:30 p.m. after spending about 5.5 hours fighting the fire.
The fire is currently under investigation, but Lattanzio says foul play is not suspected.
The home’s occupants are receiving support from Emergency Support Services and Victim Assistance and do have fire insurance.
CFD would like to thank RCMP, BC Ambulance Services, Emergency Support Services, Castlegar Public Works, FortisBC and Victim Services for their assistance.
betsy.kline@castlegarnews.com
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