A Chilliwack family was displaced Monday after their rental home went up in flames on Maitland Avenue.
Chilliwack Fire Department firefighters were on scene at about 9:30 a.m. to knock down the fire which may have started on the porch.
Two residents, a man and a woman, managed to escape out the back door unscathed. The house was almost completely destroyed.
The male resident told fire officials he tried to put out the blaze with a fire extinguisher, but it was already too large and too involved. The electrical connection to the house was compromised by flames and caused arcing and safety concerns for firefighters.
The tenants had no fire insurance, but the property owner did, said fire officials.
Emergency Social Services were dispatched to offer emergency accommodations, food and clothing for the family. Four children were in school at the time of the fire.
“The fire proved difficult to extinguish and fire crews were on scene into the afternoon to overhaul the structure and extinguish several hot spots,” said Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Ullyot.
The cause of the fire is unknown, but is not considered suspicious. No injuries were reported.
