A fire claimed a home on the 5400 block of Canim-Hendrix Lake Road Sunday afternoon.
The fire began around 2 p.m. Sunday - with members of the 100 Mile Fire Rescue, the 108 Mile Ranch Volunteer Fire Department and the Forest Grove Volunteer Fire Department all responding to reports of a fire that had engulfed multiple sheds. Despite the firefighters’ efforts to combat the blaze, it spread to a nearby home, which eventually burned to the ground.
The fire departments were on scene for about five hours, according to 100 Mile Fire Rescue chief Dave Bissat, and were joined by BC Wildfire. The volunteer fire departments provided “crucial water support during the operation.”
The 100 Mile House RCMP also responded to the fire. Sgt. Brian Lamb said officers determined the property owner had lit an outdoor fire to burn refuse and extinguished it with a garden hose. It is believed the fire was either not completely out or was restarted by wind which spread the fire to tall dead grass, which eventually spread to the other outbuildings - and then the house on the property.
One of the homeowners contacted the Free Press in an email stating that they did not light a fire that day, though they did confirm they had a fire a week ago.
Lamb says “numerous vehicles were also burned” but thankfully there were no injuries. Additionally, BC Ambulance services were on the scene, as well as BC Hydro and Fortis Gas, who “ensured the safety of all responders by shutting down utilities at the scene.”
Bissat added crews with assistance from neighbours assisted the lone occupant in containing their animals, with four being successfully accounted for.
However, according to the GoFundMe set up by relatives of the property owner, a cat did not make it out of the fire.
The organizers of the fundraiser also said the owners did not have their insurance renewed - which was echoed by Bissat who said the property owners suffered “a complete uninsured loss.”
He said the investigation into the fire is ongoing.
Canim Hendrix Lake Road was closed throughout the incident and the RCMP were conducting traffic control within the area.
The GoFundMe is asking for $20,000. As of Tuesday, April 9 around 51 people have donated $5,435.
The RCMP is reminding the public Categories 2 and 3 fires remain prohibited across the Cariboo Fire Centre region - which does include 100 Mile House - and that the prohibition will last until either November of 2024 or when it is rescinded.
Those looking to contribute to the fundraiser can do so at gofundme.com/f/our-mom-her-entire-home-burned-to-the-ground.
