The Chilliwack Fire Department is again reminding owners of vacant homes about the increase risk to property, but more importantly firefighter safety, when houses are left empty and boarded up.
Just after 12:30 a.m. on Oct. 31 fire crews from Halls 1, 4, 5 and 6 were dispatched to a reported residential structure fire located in the 46000 block of Margaret Avenue.
On arrival, crews reported smoke and flames on the exterior at the rear of a single-story residential home. The structure has been vacant for many months and was boarded up at the time of the fire.
Firefighters set up an exterior offensive fire attack and brought the fire under control.
The home suffered extensive fire damage to the exterior and smoke damage to the interior of the structure. Crews were able to re-board up the structure prior to leaving the scene.
There were no civilian or firefighter injuries.
“Chilliwack Fire Department would like to remind owners of vacant homes that they face an increased risk when it comes to property damage which includes vandalism, theft and or fire damage,” the department said in a press release. “A fire within a vacant home also increases the risk to firefighter safety.”
The issue of fires in vacant homes has plagued the city in recent months.
• READ MORE: Vacant house fire on Norrish Avenue in Chilliwack
• READ MORE: Pair of vacant house fires deemed suspicious in downtown Chilliwack
• READ MORE: Arson strikes yet another vacant house in downtown Chilliwack
This fire is considered suspicious at this time, and is under investigation by the Chilliwack Fire Department and RCMP.
If anyone has any information about this fire, they are asked to call the RCMP at 604-792-4611 or anonymously through Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.upperfraservalleycrimestoppers.ca.
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