Investigators are searching for answers to an early morning fire in Port Coquitlam that destroyed a home under construction and damaged two nearby properties so badly they have to be demolished because they are unsafe.
It’s not known whether Tuesday’s blaze began in the new structure where framing to the second floor had been completed or one of the established homes, but the incident that started around 5:30 a.m. in the 1900 block of Fraser Avenue was so hot it melted siding on nearby buildings and sent people fleeing their homes.
Sean Spence said his first thought was to “get the hell out” of his ground floor suite in the home next to the burning construction site but when he poked his head out the door the heat was so intense he had to shut the door and exit with his wife and dog from a side door away from the fire.
Port Coquitlam Fire Chief Nick Delmonico said investigators are searching for the cause of the blaze but the their work will be hampered by the fact that the two homes still standing are unsafe to enter and have to be knocked down.
He said flames were leaping as high as 80 feet and there were four or five loud explosions coming from the construction site.
“Houses under construction burn like a fireplace,” Delmonico said, noting that there are no firewalls or concrete to stop the flames.
Approximately nine homes were evacuated “as a precaution,” according to Cpl. Mike McLaughlin of the Coquitlam RCMP, with residents sent to an emergency reception centre set up by the city of Port Coquitlam at Hyde Creek Recreation Centre.
A city spokesperson said 12 people had registered at the emergency response centre to receive assistance such as food, lodging, clothing, incidentals and emotional support provided by trained emergency services workers.
The program is provided by the city, with the support of the RCMP victim services staff, and is funded by the province.
Meanwhile, Spence, who is one of the fire victims entitled to receive aid, said he was alerted to the fire by the sound of someone pounding on his suite’s doors and windows, and told The Tri-City News he was worried about the fate of his cat.
“I hope he’s OK,” he said.
Delmonico said all the residents were accounted for when a head count was done after the evacuation.
The fire also resulted in a power outage to about 28 homes in the area, according to BC Hydro, and Fortis was called to the scene to cut a gas line because a gas meter on one of the homes was burning.
Coquitlam firefighters also responded to the call as part of a mutual aid agreement and Delmonico said everyone’s help was needed.
Firefighters were expected to remain on the scene Tuesday to put out any spot fires. If anything suspicious results from the investigation, police would be called to look into the matter, according to Cpl. McLaughlin.
— with files from Mario Bartel
