Local fire crews contended with a year-end blaze late last month that caused extensive damage to a Whistler Road home, according to Whistler’s fire chief.
Chief Thomas Doherty told Pique this week that firefighters were dispatched to a structure fire at 2632 Whistler Road on the evening of Sunday, Dec. 29. When crews arrived on scene, smoke was already billowing from the three-level home, and an occupant met firefighters outside. Fire personnel also safely retrieved another occupant from inside the house, who was initially unaccounted for when crews arrived. Paramedics attended the scene and treated the individual for smoke inhalation.
The house sustained “significant damage to the structure of the wall and the roof,” as well as smoke and water damage throughout, Doherty said.
Whistler’s fire chief noted the fire appeared to start on the main level of the home, and was likely caused by a wood-burning stove.
Around 20 firefighters attended the scene, quickly containing the blaze.
“We worked on just getting access to the fire that was hidden in the walls and up the wood-shake roof area, too,” Doherty explained.* “It took a bit of work but we were able to supress the fire and contain it to just those areas.”
The homeowner had working smoke alarms in place, which Doherty said is not always the case.
“I stress that everyone ensure they have a working fire alarm inside their home,” he advised.
*An earlier version of this article stated that the roof of the home was tin. Whistler's fire chief later clarified it was a wood-shake roof.
