West Vancouver Fire & Rescue crews have largely gained control of a “stubborn” house fire that dealt heavy damage to a British Properties home on Friday.
The blaze broke out on the 2100 block of Westhill Place around 10 a.m. The home’s residents called 911 and evacuated before the first trucks arrived about four minutes later.
Assistant Chief Jeremy Duncan said early indications are that the fire started in the roof area and quickly got into the attic. They tried to attack the fire from inside but were finding it difficult to get water on the flames, he said. The focus soon became preventing the fire from spreading
“It's a unique house design with a flat roof,” he said. “When it burned through the roof, we had to go defensive. Unfortunately, defensive is a slower process, but safer for the firefighters involved.”
The damage to the home was likely catastrophic, Duncan said.
Because the fire was so close the adjacent Larson Park and Douglas Woodward Park, BC Wildfire Service members arrived in a helicopter to offer support. Thankfully, the damage was limited to just one home.
“It's contained. We're comfortable it's not going to spread,” Duncan said. “But it's still being troublesome. We turn the water off and think we got it, and then it pops out somewhere, so we're going to have crews on scene for a while.”
The department’s fire investigator won’t be able to get in for some time, Duncan said.
The residents did the right thing, Duncan added.
“Valuables and homes can be replaced. Get yourself out early and call 911 as quickly as possible,” he said.
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