A young man was transported by air ambulance to the hospital with severe injuries following a residential fire in Surrey, British Columbia, on Friday evening. Surrey fire chief, Jeff Klaassen, mentioned that the man sustained second and third-degree burns, while two others were treated on-site for smoke inhalation by B.C. Emergency Health Services.
Responding to the incident on Jersey Drive in Cloverdale at approximately 4:40 p.m., Klaassen reported that 25 firefighters and 12 trucks were dispatched to the scene. The fire chief noted that an explosion had been reported before their arrival, causing significant structural damage to the house.
Despite the limited fire volume, Klaassen stated that the firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the flames. Nearby resident Joshua Parkinson described hearing an explosion upon returning home from work, prompting him to dial 911 immediately. According to Parkinson, the explosion caused significant damage to the house.
Surrey Police Service confirmed their attendance at the scene and indicated that the fire is not considered suspicious. A police press release issued on Saturday afternoon revealed that the injured man is expected to survive but remains under medical care in the hospital. The cause of the explosion and fire is yet to be determined, with authorities ruling out foul play at this stage of the investigation.
The RCMP Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit will lead the investigation, with the assistance of fire investigators and forensics services. The public is urged to provide any relevant information by contacting the SPS non-emergency line or Crime Stoppers, referencing file number 26-1201 (SU).