By Pete McIntyre

Fire started outside the house; not considered suspicious

Aug 29, 2019 | 11:15 AM

Investigators have determined a fire last week that gutted a home in South Vernon, started in the yard, and spread to the house with foul play not suspected.

Vernon Fire Rescue crews arrived at the site at 3755 Commonage Place last Thursday (Aug. 22) within seven minutes after the first 911 call.

“Fire investigators have confirmed that the fire started in the yard and spread to the tall cedar trees and from there to the attic of 3755. The heat from the burning cedars and the attic fire caused the melting of the vinyl siding of 3759 Commonage Place. The cause of the fire is undetermined and foul play is not suspected,” Fire Chief Dave Lind said.

The actual cause of the fire in the yard was undetermined.

“We weren’t able to identify, with evidence, what specifically started it. We’ve got a couple of theories, but nothing we can prove,” Lind told Vernon Matters.

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Fire officials have cleared up some confusion about if anyone was home at the time it broke out, initially being told no one was home, but later finding out a mother and her child got out after discovering the fire.

“On arrival VFRS was informed that there was no one home. It was later discovered that a mother and child had evacuated 3755 Commonage Place after discovering the fire. During a search of the home a cat was found alert and responsive. It was taken to a vet for assessment and care,” Lind said.

The house was home to a family of five upstairs, and a man who lived downstairs.

“There is a lot to be grateful for with this incident. The actions of a Good Samaritan significantly reduced the risk to the occupants when she assisted them to evacuate. The quick actions of the firefighters stopped the spread of the fire to the neighbouring home, recovered a family pet and salvaged important family possessions,” Lind said.

“There is also an important lesson here for all of us to pay attention to. The plants and materials around our homes can enable a fire to spread into the home. The good news is that we can, quite often, do something easy and inexpensive to reduce the risk of this fire spread. We can FireSmart our homes and our yards,” Lind added.

Day after the fire (Vernon Matters file photo)

by Pete McIntyre

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