Image: Sam Raymond / A fire erupted at a Hazel Street townhouse complex Wednesday (Nov. 6).

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Structure fire

Update: Chilliwack Fire cites lack of interconnected smoke alarms in Hazel Street townhouse fire

Nov 6, 2024 | 5:16 PM

UPDATE 11:20 A.M., THURSDAY: Chilliwack Assistant Fire Chief Krista Minar says 35 firefighters from four halls were activated Thursday afternoon for a fire at a townhouse on Hazel Street. On arrival, crews found an active fire with smoke and flames visible from the garage that wound up spreading to the exterior of the building. All occupants safely evacuated. Minar says firefighters focused on aggressively knocking down the fire and pressurizing neighboring units to prevent the fire from spreading. Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the garage with some damage to the exterior of the building.

Minar told Fraser Valley Today over the phone Thursday morning that the unit did not have interconnected smoke alarms. She said fire officials are working to confirm whether the unit had a functional smoke alarm.

RCMP and BCEHS attended to provide support. There were no reported injuries to firefighters or occupants. Emergency Support Services was contacted to support the occupants of the impacted unit.

“We want to emphasize the critical role interconnected smoke alarms play in protecting your home and loved ones,” Minar said. “Having interconnected smoke alarms installed on every level of your home ensures that when one alarm sounds, they all sound, providing an early and unified warning system, giving you precious time to escape.”

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Chilliwack Fire Department.

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CHILLIWACK — At least two dozen Chilliwack firefighters from multiple fire halls were dispatched Wednesday after a fire erupted in a townhouse complex on Hazel Street.

According to scanner traffic and a news tip from Chilliwack resident Julie Hiscock, firefighters were paged sometime after 4:30 p.m. to the 9400 block of Hazel Street.

A picture provided by Sam Raymond to Fraser Valley Today shows flames emanating from a strata unit as at least two spectators gaze at the fire that appears to have spread from a garage unit and into an affected home.

Firefighters told dispatch at 4:39 p.m. they observed smoke coming from a garage in a townhouse complex. Chilliwack firefighters subsequently told dispatch at 4:43 p.m. the fire had been knocked down.

The Chilliwack Fire Department has not issued a news release about the fire as of 10:10 p.m. Wednesday night.