Nine Port Coquitlam residents are without a home after a fire broke out at two southside houses on Tuesday, July 9.
Fire chief Blake Clarkson told the Tri-City News that the blaze accidentally started at 1838 Pitt River Rd. shortly after 11 a.m. and spread to the house next door at 1842 Pitt River Rd.
City building officials passing by alerted fire crews to the scene at 11:14 a.m. after seeing flames shoot out of the second-floor windows at 1838 Pitt River Rd.
Two occupants were rushed to hospital with smoke inhalation while a firefighter was treated on scene.
Despite the mercury reaching nearly 30°C, the fire was contained to the two homes and doused about two hours later.
All the occupants had home or tenant insurance, Clarkson said, although one renter didn’t have insurance for their contents.
“There was significant damage […] We feel for the people affected by the fire,” he said.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe page is now set up for a displaced family of four that was living at 1842 Pitt River Rd.
Family friend Whitney Morgan started the campaign to help the single mother and her three children with expenses after they lost nearly all of their possessions in the fire.
Morgan was not immediately available for comment; however, on the GoFundMe page, she wrote, “I’d like to reach out to the community to support this family who could use our help for all their everyday needs."
“Krista is a beloved kindergarten teacher, the person that always asks how they can help. She has a heart of a gold and a single mom who could use any kind of help you can give them at this difficult time.”
To help Whitney Morgan reach the $10,000 goal for the displaced Port Coquitlam family, you can visit the GoFundMe website.
