The BC Coroners Service confirmed they were called to a fatal fire during the early morning hours Saturday in Cumberland, after a fire destroyed two homes and heavily damaged a third on Penrith Avenue.
Fire and utility crews remained on scene Saturday throughout the day, sifting through the smouldering rubble of a two-storey house at 2753 Penrith, as the investigation continued.
“At about 3 a.m. (Saturday. Dec. 9) the call came in regarding a house fire,” said Cumberland deputy fire Chief Craig Windley. “We called mutual aid, as there were three structures involved. We had Courtenay (Fire Department) come in, and about 20 firefighters battling the blaze. The guys all did an excellent job containing it to where it was.
“Unfortunately, we lost the main structure (2753), which was fully involved by the time we got here. The second structure (2755 Penrith Ave.) is also gone and probably the third (2751).”
The coroners’ investigation into the death of the occupant of the main structure, 2753, is in its early stages.
Windley added the residents of 2751 were not home at the time of the fire. The occupants of 2755 – a mother and young child – were home, but escaped safely.
“At this time, we don’t know how the fire started. It’s still under investigation,” said Windley.
– With a file from Erin Haluschak
