Smoke alarm saves family

Photo: Contributed - Revelstoke Fire Department

“It’s a sound we all can live with,” says Revelstoke Fire Chief Rob Girard after a family was saved by their working smoke alarm.

Early Saturday morning, just after 1:30 a.m., Revelstoke Fire Rescue Services responded to a residential structure fire in the 3000 block of Loschinski Road.  

Photo: Contributed - Revelstoke Fire Department

“Upon arrival, fire crews quickly attacked the fire from the exterior and shortly thereafter an interior attack team entered the structure,” says Girard who adds conditions quickly turned and teams had to leave the home.

“Attack teams were forced to exit the residence because of the rapidly changing fire conditions making for a defensive fire attack.”

Fortunately both residents of the home were out of the building when fire crews first arrived on scene, alerted by their smoke alarm, and were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation. Fire crews were unable to find the family cat.

“It was a tricky fire for our crews as this residence is at the outer limits of our fire protection area where there are no fire hydrants,” says Girard. “Essentially we used 10 loads of water using our water tender trucks, which slows the process.”  

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation but Girard says the fire appears to be related to an issue with the oil furnace.

Firefighters were able to extinguish and overhaul the fire in just under four hours, with no injuries to any of the 23 fire personnel.