By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
Two separate fires one day apart at the same house on the Osoyoos Indian Band Reserve have resulted in the second being deemed suspicious and is currently being investigated by RCMP and the Oliver Fire Department (OFD).
Fire Chief Bob Graham said the OFD responded to the first fire at 00:09 Tuesday morning at a house located at 5952 Harmony Crescent, off of Black Sage Road. The fire exhibited heavy flames, Graham said.
All residents were out and safe at the time of OFD’s arrival, the OFD said.
That fire burned the interior but the structure was still intact. The OFD then was called out to the same location early Wednesday morning at 05:42 for a new fire which saw the house completely engulfed in flames. This time the fire caused more structural damage including destroying much of the roof of the house.
The OFD stayed on site for several hours after each fire to ensure there were no reignitions. Contributed photo.
“The second fire is under investigation by the fire department and police as it has been deemed suspicious,” Graham said.
Oliver RCMP Commander Sgt. Don Wrigglesworth confirmed the ongoing investigation and added that while onsite Tuesday the OFD rescued a Boston Terrier that was hidden in the rubble.
For both fires a crew was left behind for several hours to monitor the building for any reignitions. Upon deeming the fire completely out with no signs of smouldering debris, the crews left the scene, the OFD said.
