Prince George, B.C. – The investigation of a fire which destroyed a trailer on Leland Road Saturday night is in the hands of the RCMP.  And so far there is no confirmation that a resident of the trailer may have perished in the blaze.

John Heaslip, Assistant Chief with Prince George Fire Rescue, says 17 firefighters from three halls were sent to a structure fire in the 5600 block Leland Road at about 7 pm Saturday.  Leland Road runs off Bunce Road behind the Yellowhead Grove Golf Course.  Heaslip says upon their arrival the fire involved 60 to 70% of the building, adding it was a stubborn fire to fight because it was an older building with a number of additions.  He says firefighters were limited to mounting an exterior attack and it took 5 hours to extinguish the blaze.  The structure is destroyed, as is a vehicle that was parked in the driveway in front of the trailer.

Neighbours who reported the fire said an older woman who required a walker to get around lived in the trailer.  One person who knew her said the woman had recently had a hip operation.  However Assistant Chief Heaslip says he is not sure if anyone was in the structure at the time, or if there were any casualties.  He says police on the scene asked for the fire investigation to be turned over to them.  He could not say if the fire was suspicious in nature.  So far repeated calls to the RCMP regarding the fire have gone unreturned.  Damage is estimated at $200,000.

One firefighter suffered a cut hand while working of the blaze but was treated on scene and did not require hospitalization.