Truck fire sees pastor saving more than souls
By Kyra Hoggan
A local pastor has apparently expanded her repertoire from saving locals from hellfire to saving locals from truck fires as well, after an incident Monday morning in Blueberry.
The incident occurred just after 11 a.m.
“I just so happened to look out my window and saw some really black smoke, and thought, ‘Well, that’s odd’,” said Kinnaird Park Community Church’s Rachel McFaddin, who was at home greeting company at the time. “I went outside my side door and saw all this smoke and flames coming out from under the hood (of my neighbour’s truck). I had my phone with me and quickly called 911.”
She said she thought the homeowners were away at the time.
“We told another neighbour, and then we grabbed a hose and attached it to my sprinkler to try to spray it.”
Meanwhile, yet another neighour, retired Castlegar firefighter Tom Berisoff, had received a page on his phone and came bearing a fire extinguisher to pitch in.
Crews at CFD received the call at 11:04 a.m., the engine arrived on scene at 11:10 a.m., and the blaze was knocked down by 11:18 a.m., according to Fire Chief Sam Lattnzio, who added that it wasn’t declared completely out until 11:50 a.m.
McFaddin said it was quite the experience.“My sister and her family are here visiting and we were all outside trying to stay calm- it was pretty chaotic,” she said, adding how impressed she is by, and grateful to, CFD.
“I’m so impressed with our fire department, their response time and how they handled it,” she said. “They are amazing.”
Lattanzio said eight firefighters, including himself, attended.
“We arrived to find the engine compartment and cab fully involved,” he said, adding it was parked on the dirt part of the driveway, and thus was well away from the home. It was also not under any trees, power lines or other potential fuel to spread the fire.
As it happens, the homeowners were, in fact, home – but unaware of the situation until firefighters knocked on their door.
Lattanzio said the fire is in no way suspicious, and commended the neighbours for quick action in helping the CFD extinguish the conflagration.
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