House fire wrecks wedding plans

ARMSTRONG – An Armstrong couple’s home, and the place they were going to get married, was severely damaged in a fire over the weekend.

The Lockhart Drive homeowner and groom awoke just before 5 a.m. Sunday to flames ripping up the deck.

Armstrong-Spallumcheen fire investigator Alastair Crick says seven people were in the house at the time, including the man’s fiancee, their son and four guests.

“They attempted to extinguish or control the fire with garden hoses and called 911,” Crick says. “Everyone got out safely including the family dog.”

When firefighters arrived, flames were through the roof. The whole main floor including the kitchen and living room was destroyed. Crick says the couple is waiting to hear from the insurance company about whether or not the house can be salvaged and rebuilt.

“The unfortunate thing for the couple is they’re due to get married in about 3 to 4 weeks time here at this house, so plans have changed somewhat. They’re remaining quite positive though,” Crick says.

The couple spent the last year renovating the house in preparation for their wedding.

The good news is firefighters were able to go in after the fire was suppressed and retrieve the woman’s wedding dress, engagement ring and family photos.

“If there’s one good thing about it, it’s that she got that part back,” Crick says.

What caused the fire remains under investigation.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724