Quick work by the Naramata Fire Department prevented what could have been a major blaze on March 16.
The call came in just a few minutes after 5 p.m. of a structure fire on Partridge Road near King Drive however when crews arrived it turned out to be a pile of debris burning in close proximity to a house and trailer.
“There was a big plume of dark smoke, so we knew that it was not good things that were burning,” said fire chief Tony Trovao, who actually saw the smoke before receiving the call and was already getting prepared when word did come in. “It was in an orchard and there was a sprayer, railroad ties soaked with creosote and some fibreglass and when we got there it was fairly close to the house, within 15 feet, and the flames were about 10 to 12 feet high and impinging on the house so we hit it hard and hit it fast.”
He added there were also a nearby row of evergreen trees that were extremely combustible that firefighters had to prevent the flames from reaching.
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Initially the home owner and a neighbour were attempting to put out the fire with a garden hose but were unsuccessful and fortunately the fire crews were quick to arrive on scene to take over.
“We had two engines and a tender and about 15 firefighters,” said Trovao. “We were there for about three hours to make sure all the hot spots were taken out.”
No one was injured in the fire and there are indications it may have started as a result of ashes from a fireplace being dumped near the debris.
“A lot of people think that when it’s cold, fire doesn’t spread, well it does, especially when there’s pine needles there,” said Trovao.
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