Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / A vacant home on Second Avenue in Chilliwack. A fire erupted at the home in early October 2024, leading to its demolition. The City of Chilliwack counted about 100 vacant homes in Chilliwack Proper, including Fairfield Island, according to its last count conducted in 2022. 

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Vacant homes in Chilliwack

Vacant homes abound in Chilliwack Proper, including Fairfield Island

Nov 7, 2024 | 12:45 PM

CHILLIWACK — If it seems like there’s been an abundance of incidents at vacant or abandoned homes in some of the older parts of Chilliwack the past couple years, you’re not alone.

Just days after a detached garage caught fire on the property of a vacant home on Nowell Street earlier this week, not to mention a fire at an abandoned home on McGuire Road just last week, a City of Chilliwack spokesperson has confirmed there are roughly 100 vacant homes in Chilliwack Proper.

“At last count in 2022, there were about 100 vacant homes in Chilliwack proper, including Fairfield Island,” said Jamie Leggatt from the City of Chilliwack. “This number is fluid as some have burnt down, been demolished for redevelopment, or are now occupied. We are currently working on updating this year’s vacant homes list.”

Over the past two years, there have been multiple fires at vacant homes reported just by Fraser Valley Today alone.

Just last week on Halloween, a fire caused significant damage to a home in the 47000 block of McGuire Road. It was demolished several hours later.

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Vacant homes in Chilliwack

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Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / Demolished home in the 47700 block of McGuire Road in Chilliwack after a fire started in the early morning hours of Thursday, October 31.

In early October 2024, a fire destroyed a 104-year-old home that was vacant.

Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / A fire at an abandoned home on Second Avenue in October 2024.

In June 2024, 24 firefighters from Halls 1, 4 and 6 were dispatched for the report of a structure fire in the 9500 block of McNaught Road. Crews arrived to discover flames coming from the front windows of a boarded-up residential home.

Image: Julie Hiscock / A fire at abandoned home on McNaught Road in Chilliwack from June 2024.

In May 2024, Chilliwack Fire Department personnel were dispatched to an abandoned home in the 46200 block of Margaret Avenue that caught fire early Thursday morning, May 16.

Image: Zach Hossmann, used with permission / Chilliwack Fire Department crews were dispatched early Thursday, May 16, 2024, for a fire at an abandoned home in the 46200 block of Margaret Avenue.

In November 2023, the Chilliwack Fire Department was dispatched to the report of a house fire in the 46200 block of First Avenue, a call that was later upgraded to a second alarm.

Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / Fire in the 46200 block of First Avenue at a vacant home in November 2023.

Between October 27, 2023 and November 2, 2023, there were three fires at abandoned homes in the School Street and Mary Street area of Chilliwack, close to Chilliwack General Hospital.

Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / Chilliwack firefighters were dispatched for the report of a fire at this abandoned home at 8861 School Street, right next to St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church and Holy Apostles Orthodox Church, on Nov. 2, 2023.

The City of Chilliwack says home owners are permitted to keep homes vacant so long as they don’t fall into disarray.

“It is not against City bylaws to keep a house vacant as long as it is in compliance with all other City bylaws, including Community Standards and Fire Protection bylaws,” a city spokesperson told Fraser Valley Today via email.

As far the empty home speculation tax goes, that’s beyond the city’s jurisdiction.

“The speculation and vacancy tax is a Provincial initiative, only enforceable by the Province,” Leggatt said.