Firefighters tackle barn fire near Courtenay, B.C.
Fire crews made quick work of a barn fire just outside of Cumberland, B.C., on Sunday and are crediting a worker’s quick actions with helping save the structure.
Crews were called to the barn fire on Tobacca Road near Lockwell Road on Sunday afternoon and found the situation was better than they had first feared.
Chief Mike Williamson says the fire began in a lean-to extension of the barn and then started to spread into the main building.
“The whole add-on section is destroyed," he said. "The structure is still there but everything was burnt, the rafters were burnt, the walls were all burnt and then it’s connected to the big barn which luckily had some sort of siding like drywall and that really saved it from getting into the big barn."
He says there were no people injured and no animals were in the barn at the time of the fire.
Courtenay’s fire department was initially called in with a tanker and contributed water to the rural property.
“We got it knocked down pretty quick," Williamson said. "It was hard to get to because of lots of power in there, we had to get the power shut off. The fire was out quick, within 10 minutes."
Williamson says the fire may have started due to an electrical problem. He also said a worker at the scene initially tried to fight the fire before calling 911.
“It was a good thing the worker spotted it," he said. "He tried to put it out with a fire extinguisher. He was there right from the get-go. He tried to mitigate it but it didn’t work."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. seeks ban on using drugs in 'all public spaces,' shifting approach to decriminalization
The B.C. government is moving to have drug use banned in 'all public spaces,' marking a major shift in the province's approach to decriminalization.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.