This utility van on Gallagher Lake Frontage Road and Iceton Crescent was totally destroyed by fire early this morning. Photos by Lyonel Doherty
Police and local fire officials are investigating a vehicle fire that occurred on the corner of Gallagher Lake Frontage Road and Iceton Crescent early this morning.
Rob Graham from the Oliver Fire Department said they received the call at approximately 1:05 am. Firefighter Grant Stevely was the first on scene and proceeded to take a garden hose to cool down the exterior of the house where a utility van was fully engulfed in flames.
Graham said the vehicle, parked in front of the residence, was totally destroyed. He noted that one of the tires blew out, and a ladder on top of the van was literally burned in half.
“The fire burned clean through the aluminum ladder; it just melted right through.”
Graham said the side of the house got very hot, so firefighters had to cool it down to prevent the structure from catching fire.
No injuries were reported, and the occupants of the house were out of the building, Graham said.
The owner of the van told the Chronicle that he didn’t know what happened, but confirmed everyone was okay. He said police and firefighters were conducting the investigation.
Graham said there was no indication where the fire actually started, but said the incident is deemed “suspicious” due to the time of day it occurred.
Oliver RCMP Sgt. Blaine Gervais could not confirm if the fire was deemed suspicious in their eyes, saying he would have been notified if it was.
The fire burned this aluminum ladder in half.
