Townhouse destroyed by early-morning fire in Chilliwack on Remembrance Day

A townhouse unit was destroyed following an early-morning fire that might have been deliberately set on Remembrance Day in Chilliwack.

“The homeowner was home at the time of the fire and was awakened by a cracking noise, went to the front door, and open the door to see a reflection of fire in the neighbouring window across the driveway,” said assistant fire chief Mike Bourdon with the Chilliwack Fire Department.

The blaze happened at a townhouse complex in the 46000-block of Portage Avenue near Hazel Street around 6:15 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 11.

The homeowner safely exited the unit, and at the same time, residents within the complex were alerting others to evacuate.

When fire crews arrived on scene, flames and smoke were coming from the roof of an end unit of the complex.

“Crews quickly knocked down the fire that was on the exterior of the building and also located fire in the roof space above the single car garage,” Bourdon said. “Firefighters deployed an offensive attack to knock down the fire. As a result of their swift actions, the fire was contained to the attic and roof structure above the garage preventing further damage to the townhouse unit.”

More than 50 firefighters responded from Halls 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6. There were no civilian or firefighter injuries reported at this fire.

This fire may have been deliberately set and is under investigation by Chilliwack Fire Department and RCMP fire investigators.

If anyone has any information about this fire, contact the RCMP at 604-792-4611 or anonymously through Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.upperfraservalleycrimestoppers.ca.

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