Fire Destroys Cabin at Cluculz Lake

By 250 News

Prince George, B.C.-   A  Friday night fire on Shallow Bay  Road  at Cluculz Lake  could have been a disaster.

Deputy Chief for the Cluculz Lake Volunteer Fire Department, Gail Poisson, says  they got the call  around 10:00 Friday night, “When we got there, one cabin was fully engulfed, and flames had spread to a second cabin.”

She says  the first thing her team did was to ensure everyone was  accounted for at both properties.

The forest surrounding Cluculz Lake is  tinder dry, and  as embers  touched off  the forest canopy, the Forestry Service was called  and two  crews were sent in.  “They were immensely helpful” says Poisson, who says the volunteer fire department has limited resources “We had three engines on scene and an ambulance on stand by.  The wind was very high on Friday night, so the arrival of the forestry team meant we could focus on the cabin fire, and they looked after ensuring the flames didn’t spread.”

Poisson says  bystanders also helped the team as did two attending RCMP members.

One firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation.  He was taken to hospital in Vanderhoof, where he was kept overnight and released on Saturday.

While the cause of the fire has not yet been determined, Poisson says it is suspected fireworks played a part.  Nearby residents say they heard plenty of fireworks  before the fire started.

“I don’t know why  people don’t seem to get the message,  there is a fire ban in place” says  Poisson “I know people just want to have fun, but this isn’t fun,  when people are hurt and property is lost,  that isn’t fun.  The  word ‘fire’ is  part of the word ‘fireworks’ so that should be  a clue   to what can happen.

One cabin was destroyed by the flames,  the second  sustained  substantial damage.  The investigation into the fire is ongoing.

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