UPDATED Powell River area fire departments were busy knocking back house fires this week.
At approximately 1 pm Friday, July 26, crews with Northside Volunteer Fire Department were called to a structural fire on Krompocker Road.
Shortly after arrival, the structure at the ocean-end of Krompocker was totally destroyed and the fire department had to tanker water into the area to fight the fire.
Ben Knoblech, a tenant who was in the process of moving out of the house, said he was just returning from a trip with his U-Haul truck when he saw the house on fire.
“The house was mostly empty, but it’s just all the irreplaceable family photos and keepsakes,” he said.
Knoblech had two pets in the house, a tarantula spider and an orange cat. “I’m hoping that the cat got out,” he said. “I don’t know what happened. The house was empty and nothing besides a fridge was plugged in.”
The ministry of forests, lands and natural resource operations was informed and at least 10 members of the coastal fire service attended and were monitoring the situation together with approximately eight firefighters.
Friday’s hot, dry but windy weather may have hampered efforts to stifle the blaze. A water bomber made two passes of the property, dropping fire retardant on the flames.
Fire crews had the blaze contained by 9:30 pm and two firefighters remained at the scene overnight on patrol for hotspot flare ups.
Powell River Fire Rescue crews were dispatched to a house fire in the 5000 block of Manson Avenue at 8:30 pm Saturday, July 27.
When fire crews arrived the house fire was located at the rear of the residence and was starting to spread to surrounding trees on the property.
Firefighters rescued two dogs from the home, but unfortunately “a cat did perish,” said Terry Peters, fire rescue deputy chief. “But on a happy note one cat did show up after.” Soon after the initial response team arrived on scene they were joined by the department’s auxiliary members.
Peters investigated the fire Monday and he credits the firefighters’ “aggressive tactics and overall strategy” in knocking the fire down and stopping it before it spread and became an urban interface fire.
Firefighters did not leave the scene until after 3 am Sunday.
An investigation is currently underway into the cause of the blaze.
Structural fire burns house to ground
At approximately 1 pm Friday, July 26, crews with Northside Volunteer Fire Department were called to a structural fire on Krompocker Road.
Shortly after arrival, the structure at the ocean-end of Krompocker was totally destroyed by fire.
Ben Knoblech, a tenant who was currently moving out of the house, said that he was just returning from a trip with his U-Haul truck when he saw the house on fire.
“The house was mostly empty, but it’s just all the irreplaceable family photos and keepsakes,” he said.
Knobleck had two pets in the house, a tarantula spider and an orange cat.
“I’m hoping that the cat got out,” he said. “I don’t know what happened. The house was empty and nothing besides a fridge was plugged in,” he said.
The ministry of forests, lands and natural resource operations was informed and crews from the coastal fire service attended and were monitoring the situation.
A water bomber made two passes of the property, dropping fire retardant on the flames.
By the end of the day, a fire was still burning at the back of the property and fire service crews were concerned the fire may spread into the forest beyond. Friday’s hot, dry but windy weather may have hampered efforts.
Between five and eight firefighters were on scene together with at least 10 coastal fire service crew members.
At approximately 1 pm today, Friday, July 26, crews with Northside Volunteer Fire Department were called to a structural fire on Krompocker Road.
Shortly after arrival, the structure at the ocean-end of Krompocker was totally destroyed by fire. The ministry of forests, lands and natural resource operations was informed and crews from the coastal fire service attended and are currently monitoring the situation.
A water bomber made two passes of the property, dropping fire retardant on the flames.
A fire is still burning at the back of the property and fire service crews are concerned the fire may spread into the forest beyond. Today’s hot, dry but windy weather could hamper efforts.
Between five and eight firefighters are on scene together with at least 10 coastal fire service crew members.
The house was being vacated today by a tenant, who had just moved most of his possessions to his new location. The only items left in the house were smaller boxes, family photographs, et cetera.
Current reports are nobody has been harmed by the fire.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
