Lyonel Doherty
Times-Chronicle
Update: At least one person suffered injuries during a house fire on Yarrow Street in Oliver Monday.
Heavy smoke could be seen billowing from the home off Road 2 at approximately 10:30 a.m. Fire dispatch reported that one person was still inside the structure, but it was later discovered he managed to escape the building. He suffered non life-threatening burn injuries.
Fire crews attacked the blaze from inside and outside the house, and requested mutual aid from Osoyoos.
The stubborn blaze continued to burn throughout the afternoon. At one point it was reported that the roof had collapsed. An excavator was later brought in to assist in the knockdown.
Fire department spokesman Rob Graham said if they had not utilized the excavator, the fire would have taken a lot longer to control.
He explained that due to how the older home was constructed, it was a challenging fire to deal with. In addition, there was a “lot of stuff” in the house, particularly in the basement that prevented proper ventilation during fire suppression efforts.
Graham said they suspect the fire started in the basement in relation to the furnace.
It was reported that at least two people were displaced by the fire and have been assisted by Emergency Support Services.
(Photo courtesy of Oliver Fire Department)
