A grass and wildland fire at the corner of Ewing Avenue and Elliott Street Sept. 1, 3 p.m. Melanie Law photo

A grass and wildland fire at the corner of Ewing Avenue and Elliott Street Sept. 1, 3 p.m. Melanie Law photo

WATCH: Wildland fire breaks out in West Quesnel

Fire chief said blaze "probably human caused"

  • Sep. 1, 2018 12:00 a.m.

Three firefighters with one water truck from the Quesnel Volunteer Fire Department responded to a wildland fire at the corner of Ewing Avenue and Elliott Street just before 3 p.m. today (Sept. 1), along with fire chief Sylvain Gauthier.

Grass and cedar trees enclosing the Fraser Bridge Inn were in flames and firefighters quickly doused the area, putting the fire out in minutes.

Cassie Baker saw the fire and called 911.

“I was amazed how fast it went up when it hit the cedars,” she said.

Baker said a man who happened to have a water pump in his truck stopped and put water on the blaze before the fire department arrived.

Fire chief Gauthier told the Observer at the scene the fire was “probably human caused,” and likely by a flicked cigarette, although he was still investigating the area.

Gauthier said two more volunteer firefighters were on standby at the fire hall, but were asked to stand down once the blaze was under control.

READ MORE: Record number of recruits join Quesnel Fire Department


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