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Fire destroys home at Osprey Lake

Quick action by firefighters mitigates damage

An Osprey Lake home and guest house were completely destroyed by fire Sunday.

According to Hayes Creek fire chief Rob Miller the cause of the blaze 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ“ which also consumed about an acre of brush and trees 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ“ is still unknown.

The fire started about 5 p.m., and Hayes Creek Fire Rescue and Erris Volunteer Fire Departments responded with two engines and three tenders.

According to an Erris incident report 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵœdue to the fire91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s close proximity to large old growth trees, BC Forestry91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s assistance was requested and that agency deployed four firefighters and a helicopter.91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ

Cara Lewis of Princeton was fishing with her family when the fire broke out.

Her husband and daughter were on the lake when they saw the flames, and yelled to the shore for someone to call for help.

91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵœHe saw the shed go up and within seconds it seemed like the whole tree lit right up and all you could see was flames. They said they could feel the heat of it on the water. My daughter was crying. She was so scared.91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ

The family quickly packed their gear, and then assisted a pair of campers with getting ready to leave.

91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵœWe loaded up all our stuff. It was a little windy out there and it wasn91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™t that far away91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¦After seeing that tree light up I was like 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ˜holy smokes we are in trouble.91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ

Lewis said the firefighters arrived very quickly. 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵœIt felt like it was not even five or ten minutes and they were there that fast.91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ

Miller said his crew worked all night, in shifts, working successfully to protect a neighboring home and stop the fire from spreading.

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andrea.demeer@similkameenspotlight.com

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Hayes Creek firefighters Kathryn Glover and Vic Bartel chased spot fires 300 yards from the fire91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s origin. Submitted
12076439_web1_fire-two
The lakeside home and a guest house were completely destroyed by the blaze. Submitted




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