Surrey firefighters are urging the public to check their smoke alarms after battling a blaze that “heavily damaged” one side of a duplex Thursday evening.
The fire, in a home without working smoke alarms, happened in the 12900-block of 108th Avenue around 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 17.
Five occupants of the home got out safely, noted Battalion Chief Brian Carmichael, after crews knocked down the fire within about an hour.
“There were flames and smoke showing out of one side of the duplex,” he said of the blaze, adding it was upgraded to a second alarm.
“We initiated an offensive attack.”
The scene was wrapped up within a couple of hours, he noted.
Carmichael said one resident told firefighters a lit candle may have tipped over and caused the fire.
“We have investigators on scene this morning,” Carmichael said on Jan. 18, who will be working to determine the cause of the fire.
Carmichael urged the public to ensure they have working smoke detectors installed in their homes and highlighted the fire department’s free “HomeSafe” program to check the alarms, to ensure they’re working.
As part of a free inspection, the fire department will visit a residence, go over a home fire escape plan, and install a new alarm for free if one isn’t working.
According to the fire department, a working smoke alarm increases one’s chance of surviving a house fire by 74 per cent.
Visit surrey.ca/city-services/4640.aspx to learn more and request a free smoke alarm or HomeSafe inspection.
amy.reid@surreynowleader.com
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