An attempt to unfreeze a water line is believed to be the cause of a house fire near 248th Street and 56th Avenue in Langley Saturday afternoon.
Assistant fire chief Pat Walker said it appears the fire was started by a heater being used to warm a water line.
It was first reported as a shed fire around 3 p.m. but then revised to a house fire.
One witness, who asked not to be identified, told Black Press Media he heard an “audible blast” and the blaze progressed very quickly, going from localized flames near the base to fire coming from the attic “within a couple of minutes.”
Another witness told Black Press Media she saw two young men busy at the house who left a few minutes before the fire.
There was a marijuana grow operation on the site, but it was not the source of the fire, deputy fire chief Bruce Ferguson said.
Langley RCMP Cpl. Holly Largy said investigators are working to determine whether the grow op was licensed.
“If not, a ticket will be issued,” Largy said.
Cause of the blaze is under investigation.
There were no injuries.
