Three family members are alive but two pets lost their lives in a Sunnybrae house fire.
Columbia Shuswap Regional District Fire Services Co-ordinator Sean Coubrough says firefighters arrived at a Bohn Road residence at 1:40 a.m. Monday, Dec. 17 to find flames escaping from a bedroom window and lapping their way up to the roof.
Fire crews got the fire under control quickly, but it was a much longer process to go through the home looking for flames and and hot spots to make sure the fire was completely extinguished.
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Shuswap Fire Department was called for mutual aid and firefighters were on scene until 5:30 a.m.
While the house is still standing, there is heavy smoke and water damage in many areas of the home, says Coubrough, noting firefighters were able to save many of the family’s possessions.
“Unfortunately they lost a dog and a cat,” says Coubrough, who had to break the news to the family.
Whether or not the house is a write-off is up to the insurance adjusters, he says, noting that while the fire remains under investigation, it is believed the point of origin was in a closet in one of the bedrooms.
The three occupants were transported to Shuswap Lake General Hospital for smoke inhalation and have since been released.
“Emergency Social Service is assisting the family at this time,” Coubrough added.
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