House fire leaves family homeless in Oliver

OLIVER – A home in downtown Oliver went up in flames Sunday morning sending a family into the street.

The house and garage just off Main Street was burning full tilt when crews from the Oliver Fire Department arrived at about 6:30 a.m.

Firefighter Rob Graham says they attacked the blaze from the exterior calling it a defensive action.

The family managed to escape, but Graham adds not all the residents in the house have been accounted for. The Oliver Daily News reports there were people living in a suite in the basement.

“It’s not safe yet for our firefighters to search due to the structural integrity,” he says. Crews continue to work to put out the hot spots.

A business next door, MLA Linda Larson’s office, suffered fire, heat and smoke damage.

Investigators will be looking into the cause once the fire is completely out, according to Graham. A dollar value on the damage isn't available yet.

The family left homeless by the blaze lost everything.

The couple has three young children, two girls and a boy. If you can help with donations of clothing contact Shawna Michaud at 250-498-5523 or email mich13@telus.net.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Meaghan Archer at marcher@infotelnews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.