Fire crews from across the Alberni Valley battled a house fire that spread to nearby trailers and trees and sent heavy black smoke billowing high into the sky on Tuesday, July 16.
Crews were called to the house in the 5200-block of Josephine Street near Meadow Drive before 6 p.m. The street was closed for several hours. No information was available on whether anyone was home when the fire started or whether there were any injuries.
This is the second time a fire has occurred at the Josephine Street house. Emergency crews were also called out to deal with a structure fire on Jan. 30, 2023 at the same house. Some derelict trailers were also purportedly placed on the site with people living in them after an illegal trailer park on Fourth Avenue was dismantled.
Witnesses at the scene Tuesday evening said at least one tree could be seen erupting in flames and booms from possible propane tanks exploding were also heard.
The heavy black smoke could be seen for kilometres away, and traffic heading to Josephine Street briefly clogged the road before it was closed to traffic. It remained closed for several hours as firefighters used different fire hydrants along the street to access water.
Fire crews from Port Alberni, Beaver Creek, Cherry Creek and Sproat Lake fire departments responded with seven trucks and two first responder vehicles. A BC Ambulance was also on site, RCMP attended and BC Hydro was called in to cut power to the house.
No one was available to comment immediately on the fire.
The fire was declared out shortly before 10 p.m. and the road reopened. Port Alberni fire crews were expected to monitor the site overnight for flareups.
