Structure fire breaks out in McBride during Telus outage

Neighbours scrambled to contact emergency services

Members of the McBride District Fire Department doused the scene on Museum Road for several hours after the visible flames had been extinguished. Crew members had to carefully navigate charred debris as they made their way around, hitting hotspots when they saw smoke. After a few minutes of a high pressure shower, the flow was stopped and firefighters waited to see if more smoke would surface. If it did, more water was applied. The process repeated until embers were extinguished. /ANDREA ARNOLD

By Andrea Arnold

When a fire broke out at a property on Museum Road around noon April 15th, neighbours attempted to call 9-1-1 but were unable due to a widespread Telus outage affecting cell phones and internet.

One neighbour told The Goat she went straight to the police station but was unable to reach an officer. Her son suggested the library landline. The pair rushed to the library where they were successful in getting through. 

Another neighbour hurried to McBride Senior Secondary School where she too called for help.

Corporal Kelly Barrie with the McBride RCMP detachment said RCMP were alerted to the fire by an off-duty paramedic as well as a BC Hydro staff member who had been at the property approximately 10 minutes prior. The two individuals were concerned the occupant was still inside. Barrie said the BC Hydro employee reached 9-1-1 using the detachment landline. 

 “When police arrived on scene they were relieved to find the occupant safe and he had sustained no injuries,” said Barrie. “He was taken to the hospital as a precaution and put in touch with Emergency Support Services upon leaving the hospital.”

Barrie told The Goat the cause of the blaze was due to a fire in a burn barrel on the property that got out of control after wind blew the flames onto some dry grass. 

The fire consumed one large structure-a shop — which was reportedly being used as a dwelling — as well as some items that were being stored nearby. 

A Goat reporter on the scene noted that, although it was a gusty day, the wind seemed to have worked with the firefighters, moving the flames away from the other structures on the property and travelling in a focused direction.

The McBride District Volunteer Fire Department (MCFD) remained on scene to ensure the embers were cold and wet before returning to the station. The Goat reached out to the MCFD, who declined to provide a comment on the incident.

The Goat also reached out to Telus for comment on the outage, but did not receive a response.

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