Crews dealing with house fire in Nelson

Crews battle house fire

Photo: Samantha Holomay

Nelson firefighters responded to a house fire just after 5 p.m. on April 24.

Update - Thursday, 10:21 p.m.

City firefighters pulled double duty on Thursday evening when they knocked down one structure fire while attending to an out-of-control backyard burn at the same time.

Around 5 p.m. all on-duty Nelson Fire and Rescue (NFR) members responded to a structure fire in the 1300 block of Robertson Ave. and were met on arrival by heavy smoke, explained NFR chief Jeff Hebert.

“The first arriving crew’s primary objective was controlling fire growth from the exterior until additional members could arrive,” he said in a statement Thursday night.

An additional 17 NFR members responded to the fire from their homes.

Upon making entry for an interior attack and primary search, Hebert said the team found a Boston terrier that was originally suspected to still be inside the burning house. The dog was taken outside the house where oxygen was administered and, as a result, it regained consciousness.

The fire appears to have originated in an unfinished basement, and travelled into the ceiling through various additions and renovated walls, Hebert explained.

In all 20 firefighters responded to the incident with two fire engines, one ladder truck and two utility vehicles.

“One firefighter was taken to hospital for observation as a result of this incident,” said Hebert.

Damage was estimated at $150,000, while the cause of the fire was still under investigation.

While NFR fighters were still on scene at Robertson Avenue, a second call came in (around 6 p.m.) for an out-of-control backyard burn that was extending into the trees on Trevor Street. The assistant chief and three members responded to the scene with the water tender and utility vehicle.

Upon arrival, firefighters found a 30-square-metre, out-of-control fire on a steep, wooded residential property.

“As a precaution, and as crews were stretched thin with the ongoing structure fire, a call was made to B.C. Wildfire Service for assistance,” said Hebert, “(and) they supplied an initial attack crew to assist.”

Both fires were contained and extinguished.

Hebert noted that there currently is no backyard burning allowed in Nelson unless authorized by the fire chief.

“We would also like to take this moment to thank B.C. Wildfire Service for their continued support,” Hebert said.

Thursday, 5:29 p.m.

Firefighters were called to a house fire on the 1300 block of Robertson Avenue in Nelson just after 5 p.m. on Thursday.

Details about how the fire started have not yet been determined and crews are on scene responding to the blaze.

Smoke could be seen throughout the Rosemont neighbourhood as onlookers gathered and watched.

It's unclear if anyone was home at the time of the fire, but onlookers said that a pet may still be inside.

*This is a developing story, and will be updated once more information is released.