A neighbour called in a house fire on Upper Lorne Street March 3 at approximately 3:30 p.m. Burns Lake Fire and Rescue Department responded with 16 fire fighters and all of their equipment. The inside of the house was destroyed as the fire started in the basement.
"Due in part of the extent of the fire and smoke damage the house and its' content received extensive damage. I would have to think that the damage I viewed was extensive enough to warrant the destruction of the house. The fire extended up from the basement area which contained the furnace and wood stove, burning a hole in the floor of the master bedroom, weakening the entire floor structure in this part of the house. The water damage in the basement due to the separation of a water line flooded the entire basement area," said Jim McBride Burns Lake Fire and Rescue Department Fire Chief
He went on to say, "The following morning I went back up to the house with the intent of entering the structure to investigate the cause of this fire. Upon viewing the basement area and the height of the accumulated water and ice I choose not to. The Burns Lake Village public works crew attempted to find the shutoff valve put were unsuccessful Monday night. Therefore the water ran into the basement over night and until mid afternoon when the village works crew were successful in uncovering the shutoff valve through the snow and frozen ground and were able to turn the water off."
The cause is still undetermined, but the wood burning appliance and accumulated combustible material surrounding it is very suspicious at the moment as the source of ignition.