Mission Fire Rescue Service members were stretched thin Wednesday night (Oct. 12) and into Thursday morning, but managed to extinguish two difficult blazes.
The first fire occurred around 9:30 p.m. after area residents heard a “loud bang,” according to one resident who didn’t want their name used.
The fire was originally reported to be at School Avenue and Wolfe Street northwest Mission, but Mission Fire Rescue Service member arrived to find the blaze at the top of School.
A farm’s barn was fully involved when firefighters arrived – with flames dangerously close to several propane tanks that were venting, plus a residential home.
A two-storey barn that included a workshop was on fire.
“We were concerned about the flames also being so close to vegetation,” said Ian Glasgow with Mission Fire Rescue Service. “But we were able to contain it there.”
The owners of the home were not on the property at the time of the fire.
Seven trucks were needed to tackle the blaze, with additional support from the Maple Ridge Fire Department, Glasgow said.
Then, suddenly, a different call came in at 2 a.m. about a house fire in downtown Mission.
Firefighters were dispatched to a house located at the corner of Third Avenue and James Street.
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The structure is still standing but the inside is destroyed. Two families have now been displaced.
Soaked children’s toys and clothing were lying strewn all over the front lawn the day after the fire.
The house is one of the oldest in the downtown area.
Both fires are now under investigation.
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chris.campbell@missioncityrecord.com
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