Firefighters soak down the remains of a substantial house fire on Sunrise Court on Monday afternoon in south Medicine Hat. No major injuries were reported from fire that also snarled traffic on Sierra Boulevard. Damage is considered to be substantial, and fire officials say the back roof of the dwelling was completely lost.--NEWS PHOTO COLLIN GALLANT
Firefighters searched through ashes of a south-end home for specialized medical equipment after the structure burned, while fighting it snarled traffic throughout the area.
Crews battled the blaze Monday afternoon on Sunrise Court in the Saamis community, from that street and also though the back fence that faces Sierra Boulevard.
All three stations in Medicine Hat responded and gained control shortly after 3:45 p.m.
“When we arrived it was fully engaged and there were flames rolling out of the roofline,” said platoon chief Lane Lyndsay. “Fighting it from the front and back, we managed to knock it (the fire) down, but it’s pretty substantial damage.”
A house sitter called in the fire just as the family returned home and found their house ablaze.
The family’s pet dog was killed.
A firefighter fell through the back deck, but his injuries are considered minor, said Lyndsay.
By 4:15 p.m. the fire service was still pulling down portions of the roof to soak down hot spots, bringing out whatever possessions were not smoke or fire damaged.
The response did create substantial disruption for drivers and for a time, gridlock, coming in or out of Saamis.
Traffic was halted in the area as crews ran supply lines to hydrants located at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, located on the south side of Sierra Blvd. That busy road is the only route in and out of the community. Two-way single lane traffic was restored before 4 p.m. when the fire was under control and the hydrants switched.
However, the initial timing created major backlogs as school was just letting out across from the church at Ecole les Cypres. Making matters worse, traffic was blocked further north on Southridge Drive by police and diverted onto Sage Road toward George Davison School.
That also stopped most eastbound traffic on Strachan Road, which leads to Roy Wilson and St. Patrick’s schools.
