Firefighters are on the scene of a structure fire at a two-storey home in Columere Park.

Firefighters were dispatched just before 10 a.m. after a neighbour saw smoke and called 9-1-1. “We responded immediately and, with the help of the aerial truck, have worked hard to keep the fire confined to the one structure,” explained Columbia Valley Rural Fire & Rescue Service Chief Drew Sinclair.

Sixteen firefighters from the Fairmont Hot Springs and Windermere Fire Departments responded to the call, along with five pieces of apparatus.

RCMP, Emergency Health Service and BC Hydro are also on site.  Emergency Support Services is also engaged and offering support.

The homeowners were not home at the time the fire broke out but were notified and returned to the property.

Against the direction of the firefighters, one of the homeowners entered the home.

“Immediately we had to halt our firefighting actions and firefighters had to enter the burning structure to search for and retrieve the homeowner,” said Sinclair. “While it is extremely distressing to see your home or property on fire, it is critical that people stay out of burning buildings and adhere to the instructions of the emergency responders.  No piece of personal property is worth your safety, or worse, your life.”

Firefighters remain on scene this afternoon and will continue to stay on site until any hot spots have been fully cooled.

The structure sustained significant damage and the cause remains under investigation but is not suspected to be suspicious in nature.

Residents in the area are asked to stay back from the scene to avoid traffic congestion and allow firefighters and emergency services personnel to complete their work.

Columbia Valley Rural Fire & Rescue Service photo

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