The residents of a house on Fairfield Island were displaced following a kitchen fire in Chilliwack on Wednesday.
The incident happened around 7:45 a.m. on June 4 in the 10000 block of Bonavista Street. The call was upgraded to a second alarm due to multiple reports.
When crews with the Chilliwack Fire Department arrived on scene, smoke alarms were sounding and smoke was venting from the roof of the home, Krista Minar stated in a press release later that same morning.
"Fortunately, the homeowner had already safely called out their family pet before firefighters entered."
Inside, there was an active kitchen fire and firefighters brought it under control quickly, she added.
"The swift actions of crews from Halls 1 and 4 resulted in minimal fire damage to the structure. However, significant smoke damage will unfortunately displace the residents until remediation is completed."
British Columbia Emergency Health Services and the RCMP were also on scene to provide support.
There were no injuries to either firefighters or the public.
The fire remains under investigation by the Chilliwack Fire Department, though initial findings suggest it was an accidental kitchen fire.
The Chilliwack Fire Department sent out a reminder message as a result of this incident.
"Kitchen fires are a leading cause of residential fires, we encourage residents to practice simple safety habits. Even when you're not cooking, you can reduce your fire risk through good housekeeping: ensure your stovetop and surrounding areas remain clear of clutter, grease buildup, and anything that could easily catch fire. Unplug small appliances when not in use to prevent electrical fires. Regularly clean under and around appliances to prevent accumulation of dust and debris. Most importantly, ensure you have working smoke alarms on every level of your home and test them monthly, as they provide critical early warning in a fire emergency."
