A West Vancouver family had to flee their home Wednesday evening after a dramatic fire broke out in the attic, burning through the roof.
Flames from the fire in the British Properties could be seen shooting into the sky from vantage points around West Vancouver, with one nearby resident describing the fire as “ferocious.”
West Vancouver firefighters were called to the home at 1122 Hillside Road around 7:40 p.m.
“When crews arrived, there was fire through the roof,” said Gord Howard, deputy fire chief with West Vancouver Fire and Rescue. “There was a fair amount of flames.”
Luckily, members of the family who live in the house all managed to get out by the time firefighters arrived.
Three fire engines plus one with an aerial tower for fighting fire from above and 15 firefighters responded to the blaze.
In addition to fighting the fire itself, crews sprayed down neighbouring homes with water to lessen the chances of the fire spreading.
“There was a bit a wind with some pretty high gusts,” said Howard. “Anytime there’s wind it can carry embers.”
The cedar shake roofs of adjacent homes added to the concern.
The fire took about half an hour to bring under control and about another two hours to fully extinguish, said Howard.
Firefighters kept watch on the house through the night in case the fire re-ignited in the roof.
Fire investigators were on scene this morning, looking for the cause of the blaze.
Howard said the family had been allowed to retrieve some valuables from the home, but the house sustained significant damage, both from the fire and from water used to douse it.
According to BC Assessment, the four-bedroom rancher with a basement was built in 1966.
