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Fire department investigating suspicious blaze that sent man to hospital

Revelstoke Fire Rescue Services investigating a suspicious fire that sent man to hospital and damaged a Farwell home early Thursday morning.
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Firefighters battle a blaze in a Wilson Street home early Thursday morning.

Revelstoke Fire Rescue Services is investigating a suspicious fire that sent a man to hospital and damaged a Farwell home early Thursday morning.

Revelstoke Fire Rescue Services were called to a fire at a home on the 500 block of Wilson Avenue at around 5:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 6, said Fire Chief Rob Girard.

There, firefighters quickly discovered and extinguished a fire on the rear of a structure. They then moved to extinguish the remainder of the blaze. The 17 firefighters extinguished the blaze in a little less than one hour.

The lone occupant of the home was inside when the fire started but he was able to get out of the house by the time firefighters arrived. The man was treated by first responders and paramedics for smoke inhalation and taken to Queen Victoria Hospital.

Girard described the damage to the home as "significant on the side and underneath."

"They should be able to inhabit it again but it's going to definitely need some work," he added.

Emergency Social Services was activated to assist the man find shelter in the meantime.

Girard said the fire is "suspicious in nature" and the cause is being investigate by fire inspector Roger Echlin.

"It's a fire starting on the outside of the house and it wasn't like there was anything electrical right at that particular spot," said Girard. "It's just an odd area for it to burn. It's still under investigation as to what the cause may or may not be but at this point in time it's definitely suspicious."