Investigators are seeking witnesses or security footage that may offer clues about what caused an overnight fire on Young Road.
Chilliwack Fire Department crews were called out at 3:30 a.m. on Monday (Feb. 14) to a recently vacated house at 9784 Young Road to find fire and black smoke venting from it.
The fire is now “under investigation” by both the Chilliwack Fire Department and RCMP fire investigators, but the badly damaged structure with blown-out windows had not been cleared for entry by investigators by early afternoon.
Officials have not said yet if the fire was suspicious, accidental or if it was deliberately set.
“We will be holding the scene until it’s safe to enter the premises to advance the investigation,” said Sgt. Krista Vrolyk, spokesperson for Chilliwack RCMP.
Fire investigators are seeking anyone with CCTV footage of the area, particularly between the hours of 2 a.m. and 3:30 a.m. of Feb. 14.
There was yellow crime-scene tape draped around the vacant property and a police cruiser parked in the driveway for much of Monday.
When fire crews arrived on-scene in the early hours on Feb. 14, the structure was showing flames.
“Due to fire conditions, firefighters secured a water supply and set up a defensive fire attack to bring the fire under control, preventing fire spread and exposure damage to adjacent homes,” said assistant fire chief Andrew Brown.
Major fire and smoke damage to both the interior and exterior resulted.
“Chilliwack Fire Department would like to remind owners of vacant homes that they face an increased risk when it comes to property damage which includes vandalism, theft and or fire damage. A fire within a vacant home also increases the risk to firefighter safety.”
If anyone has any information about this fire (police file #2022-5423), they are asked to call the RCMP at 604-792-4611, or anonymously through Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.upperfraservalleycrimestoppers.ca
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