Arson is suspected in spectacular blaze early Sunday morning that completely destroyed a home in the 50,000 block of Yale Road.
The blaze could be seen from the highway as passing motorists called in to report the fire shortly after midnight. Fire crews could see the fire from Prest Road as they were heading to the scene.
They arrived to find the house fully-engulfed in flames. Fire crews from four halls performed a defensive-only attack as it was unsafe to enter the home initially.
The top floor had collapsed onto the bottom floor about 15 minutes after crews arrived on scene. Only after 30 minutes of battling the blaze were firefighters able to enter the house to do a search.
Firefighters say the home was unoccupied.
It took fire crews from Halls 1, 2 (Rosedale), 4 (Sardis) and 6 to fight the fire. Crews from other halls were called in to help with city coverage.
"This fire appears to be deliberately set," said Assistant Fire Chief Mike Bourdon Sunday. It is under investigation by Chilliwack Fire Department and RCMP fire investigators.
Anyone has any information about the fire is asked to call the RCMP at 604-792-4611 or anonymously through Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.chilliwackcrimestoppers.ca
The home is located just west of Annis Road. Yale Road was blocked at Annis Road, and traffic was rerouted.
RCMP, BC Ambulance Service, BC Hydro, and Fortis were all on scene.
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