Two people were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation after trying to put out an electrical fire in a bedroom of a Langley City townhouse on Wednesday evening.
Around 6 p.m., City fire crews were called to the townhouse in the 20500 block of 51A Avenue.
The family of three were downstairs when the smoke alarm went off. At the same time, a neighbour who saw thick black smoke billowing from the bedroom banged on the door to let the family know.
“Unfortunately, two of the three in this family went upstairs to fight the fire,” said assistant fire chief Pete Methot. “They should have shut the door and left the home.”
Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the bedroom but most of the furniture, the floor and blinds were damaged, he said.
Fire investigators believe the fire was caused by too many pinched or bent electrical wires, causing the computer to short and catch fire. The computer screen and keyboard were melted.
There were several cords near the computer, and some were bent, he said.
“When electrical wires are constricted it doesn’t allow them to expand and contract, causing them to heat up,” said Methot.
Electrical fires are far too common, he said.
“We tend to overload our power bars, have wires running under carpets or wires bent or pinched,” he said.
While the fire department does inspect businesses and care homes for this type of thing, homes are not looked at.
