Update: House Fire in Kelvin Grove Extinguished

Home believed to be vacant; LBFR on scene

West Vancouver Fire Rescue sprays water from ladder truck above blazing home. Photo by Wally Senyk.

11 a.m. Update:

Emergency Program Coordinator Mary Brown reports that fire crews have successfully doused the fire. "Everyone involved has been accounted for and taken care of."

Residents of the home were reported to be away, and Brown confimed there were no people or animals in the house during the fire. She said that Emergency Social Services was onsite, ensuring that neighbours' (and their pets) needs were met.

While no evacuation order was issued, immediate neighbours of the burned house were advised to stay away for 24 hours, due to the toxic smoke.

Brown noted that communication is paramount in these situations, and said that neighbour to neighbour communication is important. "Situations like these underline the importance of programs like "In It Together', where neighbours have an open line of communication with one another."

Brown added that while fire services were preventing people from driving up past the incident, firefighters were waving drivers through who were trying to exit the community during the incident.

Photo by Wally Senyk.

Original story:

Lions Bay Fire Rescue (LBFR) and West Vancouver Fire Rescue (WVFR) are on the scene of an early-morning house fire at 100 Kelvin Grove Way in Lions Bay.

Local resident Wally Senyk reported hearing sirens at first light, and had to walk past the scene on his way out of the Village, as fire trucks and hoses are blocking the roadway.

Residents are advised to close their windows due to the toxic smoke generated by the house fire.

Fire services have also been diverted to a burned out vehicle parked about two kilometres south on the Sea to Sky highway at the top Ocean Point Drive. Police services are also on scene.

Updates to follow.