Fire considered 'lucky' given potential damage
By Kyra Hoggan
A structure fire in Rossland yesterday is being hailed as “extremely lucky” despite having caused an estimated $50,000 worth of damage, according to Kootenay Boundary Regional Fire Rescue Captain Glen Gallamore.
The call came in at 4:30 p.m. and crews arrived on scene at 4:35 p.m. at 2049 Happy Valley Road in Rossland. Thirteen Rossland firefighters and five Trail firefighters responded.
“The daughter of the homeowner came home from work and called 9-1-1 because she saw smoke pouring out of the windows,” Gallamore said. “The fire was hot enough to rupture a water line, which partially extinguished the fire, then the homeowner arrived and used a fire extinguisher from upstairs (the fire was in the basement) to knock down the rest of it.”
The fire was 90-per-cent down by the time crews arrived, so their job was primarily to extinguish remaining embers and clear smoke.
“The smoke damage was quite extensive, and the electric wiring was melted, so our best guess would say it was about $50,000 damage,” Gallamore said. “But it was extremely lucky everyone just kind of came home at the right time.”
The cause is currently believed to be electrical in nature, but is still under investigation.
No one was injured in the blaze.
