Update: Police Investigate Condemed House Fire

May 1, 2019 | 11:11 AM

UPDATE

RCMP are investigating the cause of a house fire in Enderby Tuesday.

The City says the suspected drug house had been condemned just a few weeks prior due to hazardous conditions and controlled substances on site.

Constable Kelly Brett says the structure in the 1900 block of George Street was engulfed in flames upon RCMP’s arrival.

“All occupants of the home made it out to safety and the fire was extinguished by Enderby and District Fire Services.”

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Brett says there were two people in the home at the time the fire caught, however both made it out to safety prior to the arrival of emergency crews.

“The home is currently under a no-occupation order by the city of Enderby due to the structural damage and the fire remains under investigation at this time.”

April 30

Enderby’s mayor says it was a serious situation that could have been tragic.

A fire broke out at a suspected drug house in the north end of the city Tuesday causing water and smoke damage.

“Most of the damage was in the basement,” says Fire Chief Cliff Vetter. “We had to remove part of a wall where the flames got inside, but we were able to save the building. A fire investigation is pending.”

The house had been condemned just a few weeks ago on April 10 by the City due to the activities going on there and hazardous conditions as observed by RCMP during the arrest of a wanted person.

After the City threatened legal action to enforce the order made under its Safe Premises Bylaw, the property owners required the occupants to vacate.

The occupants were moving out when the blaze broke out with the cause under investigation.

“At this point, we do not know the cause of the fire for certain, but this serious situation could have been much worse, and potentially tragic,” said Enderby Mayor Greg McCune. “The action to condemn the building only could have happened with strong cooperation between the City and RCMP. It was our finding that this building contained a number of hazardous conditions that made it unfit for habitation.”

by Corey Fischer