Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / At least five fire engines from the Chilliwack Fire Department were dispatched Monday morning to Woodbine Street on the north side of town for a residential fire at a single-family home north of First Avenue, but south of Yale Road, on Woodbine Street. 

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Residential fire in Chilliwack

UPDATE: Chilliwack Fire says unattended cooking leads to fire at Woodbine St. home

Feb 12, 2024 | 12:29 PM

CHILLIWACK — At least five fire engines from the Chilliwack Fire Department were dispatched Monday morning (Feb. 12) to Woodbine Street on the north side of town for a residential fire at a single-family home.

According to scanner traffic, additional firefighters were called to a home in the 9200 block of Woodbine Street after receiving reports of smoke emanating from the roof.

The call first came in at about 10:58 a.m. Engine 1 (Cheam Avenue fire hall) was there on scene within minutes. Engine 1 personnel witnessed smoke coming from the roof and investigated accordingly. Additional fire engines responded subsequently.

Scanner traffic indicated there may have been one victim of smoke inhalation. At least one B.C. Ambulance Service unit was dispatched and responded, as did two RCMP cruisers. However, as the Chilliwack Fire Department reported this afternoon, there were no firefighter or civilian injuries associated with today’s fire.

A strong smell of smoke was still present on Woodbine Street at approximately 11:43 a.m., nearly an hour after the fire was first reported to fire personnel.

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Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / Chilliwack firefighters were dispatched to a residential fire on Woodbine Street Monday morning (Feb. 12).

It did not appear that the fire spread to any neighbouring residences.

BC Hydro was contacted and utility connections were disconnected.

The Chilliwack Fire Department released a statement Monday afternoon saying 20 firefighters from Halls 1 and 4 were dispatched this morning for a residential fire. Further investigation revealed a fire that had started in the kitchen. Initial arriving crews called for a second alarm, and quickly began an offensive fire attack while securing a water supply to bring the fire under control. Firefighters worked quickly to contain and extinguish the fire. The home suffered significant fire and smoke damage, according to assistant fire chief Andy Brown.

One occupant was home at the time of the fire, and was alerted to the situation by the smell of smoke. The home did have working smoke alarms that activated. The fire is believed to have been accidentally caused by unattended cooking. Chilliwack Fire Department is investigating the fire to determine cause. There were no firefighter or civilian injuries.

Chilliwack Fire Dept. wants to remind the public that the leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking.