One person was injured in a shop fire in Chilliwack while rescuing a family pet Monday afternoon (Dec. 2).
The fire was at a large shop at a home in the 10000 block of McSween Road, at about 4 p.m.
When crews arrived on scene, they saw both heavy smoke and flames coming from the building. Krista Minar, assistant fire chief at the Chilliwack Fire Department, said that while both of the people in the shop had evacuated, one went back in to rescue one of the family's three pets. The person had minor injuries and was taken to the hospital by paramedics.
Minar said that Chilliwack firefighters were able to successfully rescue the other two family pets, who were "both relatively unharmed."
She said that the pets were in a secure location behind a closed door, which helped protect the animals from smoke inhalation.
"This incident underscores the importance and value of closed doors in reducing the threat of fire and smoke," Minar said.
Minar said that firefighters immediately established a water supply and "launched an aggressive attack" on the fire to minimize damage.
The fire was also attended by both the RCMP and B.C. Emergency Health Services, was out and crews were beginning overhaul by 4:36 p.m. The Chilliwack Fire Department is currently investigating the cause of the fire.
