West Vancouver Fire & Rescue members quickly doused a major vehicle fire in the British Properties Tuesday before it could spread to nearby homes and trees.
Numerous people called 911 when they saw smoke and heard explosions coming from the property on Bury Avenue off Stevens Drive, Tuesday afternoon.
When West Van crews arrived, they found two HVAC work vans burning badly and threatening the properties around them.
“They did have explosive gases that were exposed to heat so it could have been quite dangerous,” said assistant Chief Matt Furlot. There was a lot of evergreen around the vehicles. The vehicles were very close to the house. Extension could easily have happened into the trees or into the house.”
One of the workers suffered second-degree burns to his forearms in the blaze, Furlot said. He was treated by B.C. Ambulance Service paramedics.
Thanks are owed to the crew for their quick work and to the residents for calling it in before things got out of hand.
“The forests are very dry. Our urban interfaces are very dry. Any fire … is extremely dangerous right now,” Furlot said.
About 24 hours later, a wildfire broke out on Mount Seymour, requiring a major co-ordinated effort from B.C. Wildfire Service, Metro Vancouver and District of North Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services to deal with. As of Thursday afternoon, crews said fire was no longer spreading but it was still full of hot spots.
Exactly what caused the vehicles is go up is under investigation but Furlot said it will likely be ruled as accidental.
