FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 20, 2019

Fire Destroys Two Businesses

On December 20, 2019 at approximately 2:30pm the Chilliwack Fire Department was dispatched to a reported structure fire located in the 7100 block of Vedder Rd. A customer of the lumber supply and door manufacturing business alerted staff to the fire that had started in a door and lumber storage area of the business, staff evacuated customers and themselves from the building and called 911. The fire spread quickly and aggressively from the door and lumber storage area to the main store area.

Firefighters responded from Halls 1, 3, 4 and 6, and on arrival, reported heavy fire and a thick black smoke column of smoke rising from the lumber supply and door manufacturing business, and spreading to the adjoining liquidation retail store. The first arriving officer assumed command, called for a 2nd alarm and set up a defensive attack to confine the fire to the building of origin.

Firefighters contained the fire to the building of origin, which sustained heavy fire damage resulting in structural failure of walls and the roof system. An excavator was brought in to systematically open up the building to enable firefighters to safely gain access to extinguish the fire.

There were no civilian or firefighter injuries.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time and is under investigation by the Chilliwack Fire Department.

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For more information contact:
Andrew Brown, Assistant Chief, Training
Chilliwack Fire Department
Phone: 604.793.2733
brown@chilliwack.com