Revelstoke Fire Rescue Services had a busy start to the week, responding to three calls on Monday and Tuesday, including a structure fire in the Big Eddy and a house fire just south of town.
The first incident started shortly after 6 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 6, when the fire department was called to a blaze on the 700 block on Lundell Road in the Big Eddy.
“Upon arrival fire crews were met with heavy smoke from the rear of the building and quickly gained access through the roll up doors of the structure and began fighting the fire," said Fire Chief Rob Girard in a news release.
The building was a large truck repair shop that housed welding, propane, flammable liquids, two tractor trucks and snowmobiles, making it a dangerous fight, said Girard.
"To make matters trickier, the local freight courier company in the adjacent building had to move their goods to ensure their freight was protected during the fire attack," he said.
The fire spread into the roof and it took 20 firefighters just under five hours to put out the blaze. Girard credited his firefighters with a "great save" and said they did a great job.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Later that day, just after noon, firefighters were called to a home on the 1500 block of McKinnon road where a home experienced minor damage due to a malfunctioning thermostat. One person was home at the time and damage was minimal.
On Tuesday, Jan 7, at around 5:30 a.m., fire fighters were called to a house fire on the 1900 block of Lennard Drive in South Revelstoke. They arrived to a home filled with smoke, with 15 people standing outside the vacation rental home.
“Fire crews quickly determined when they opened up ceiling and wall spaces that the fire was in and around the fireplace," said Girard. "We began extinguishment, which took some time due to how the fire advanced in the walls of the residence."
It took 20 responders about three hours to put out the fire. The living room of the home sustained substantial smoke and water damage around the stone fireplace
Since the home is located outside city limits, the cause of the fire will be investigated by the Columbia Shuswap Regional District.