Abandoned home in Chilliwack demolished less than 24 hours after suspicious fire

Nov 1, 2023 | 12:55 PM

CHILLIWACK — The abandoned home that went up in flames Tuesday afternoon at 9049 School Street, about one block east of Chilliwack General Hospital, has already been demolished.

Fraser Valley Today visited the site of the suspicious fire on School Wednesday morning shortly after 10 a.m. and noticed two men in orange vests working around the perimeter of the rubbish and debris on School Street. The smell of charred, seared materials was still present nearly 24 hours after the suspicious fire.

According to a statement from Assistant Fire Chief Chris Wilson, 30 firefighters from five different halls responded to the scene and discovered a vacant single-family home with smoke venting from around the windows and chimney. Fire crews secured a water supply and implemented a defensive attack on the home.

There were no firefighter or civilian injuries reported and the home sustained fire, smoke and water damage.

Image: Julie Hiscock, used with permission / The abandoned home at 9049 School Street broke out in fire sometime after noon on Tuesday, October 31. The home has since been demolished.

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The fire is considered suspicious and is under investigation by Chilliwack Fire Department personnel and the RCMP, Wilson said in his statement.

School Street was blocked off at Hodgins during the fire.

Chilliwack RCMP, Griffin Security and BC Ambulance Service also responded to the scene.

The home at 9049 School Street was sold along with other properties on January 28, 2022. It appears to be one of several properties where a 200-bed long-term care facility could be built, according to bid and tender documents on a B.C. government website.

In the past week, the Chilliwack Fire Department was dispatched to an abandoned home for the report of a fire in the immediate vicinity of 9049 School Street. According to assistant fire chief Andy Brown, Chilliwack firefighters responded to a fire in a vacant house on Mary Street over the Oct. 27-29 weekend. No one was inside the home on Mary Street when firefighters arrived, Brown said.

by Mike Vanden Bosch

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Abandoned home in Chilliwack demolished less than 24 hours after suspicious fire

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