Four people displaced after three fires in one day in Maple Ridge

Four people were displaced after three fires in Maple Ridge on Thursday, Sept. 3. Fire Chief Dave Samson said crews were exhausted after responding to the third confirmed structure fire of the day, while also handling medical calls, motor-vehicle incidents and assist calls. As of Friday afternoon, Sept. 4, none of the fires had been deemed suspicious and their causes remained undetermined.

The final fire was reported at about 4:21 p.m. at 21617 Exeter Ave., after crews had attended two other fires earlier in the day. Firefighters found smoke and flames coming from the house. They initially fought the fire offensively from the roof, but had to leave the roof and move to a defensive strategy to protect neighbouring homes and trees. Firefighters also had to cut through the roof to battle the blaze. Samson said the house sustained extensive damage.

An elderly woman was displaced. She was not home when the fire began, although contractors were working on her roof while she was away. She returned as firefighters worked to extinguish the fire. She told Samson she had insurance but did not know the company because her papers were inside the home. Emergency support services were alerted, but she declined and chose to stay with a friend.

About 30 firefighters, two duty chiefs and seven heavy apparatus attended, including paid-on-call firefighters. An aerial ladder was used to fight the fire. RCMP and BC Emergency Health Services were also at the scene, and BC Hydro shut off the primary line. Crews did not clear the scene until after 10 p.m., while investigators remained there all day Friday to determine the cause.

The first fire was reported at about 10:18 a.m. at 11669 256 St., at the opposite end of Maple Ridge. Crews were initially called for alarms ringing and upgraded the response after seeing smoke from the house. About 20 firefighters, five apparatus and a duty chief attended. Three occupants were displaced, but did not need emergency support services because they had insurance and family resources.

Samson said it was initially reported that the homeowner had been doing electrical work in the basement, but the homeowner had actually been soldering pipes for a plumbing project. That investigation remains ongoing.

At about 2:45 p.m., crews responded to Maple Inn Apartments at 11695 224 St. They found that a lockable butane torch inside a dresser unit had started the fire. About 16 firefighters, four heavy apparatus and two duty chiefs attended and contained the blaze to one unit. No one was displaced.