Updated 5:30 p.m.
Gibsons and District Volunteer Fire Department firefighters were not allowed to help quell a blaze that engulfed a home south of the West Howe Sound Fire Protection District Monday afternoon.
When a fire happens outside of a fire protection district –– as was the case with the fire at the corner of the Port Mellon Highway and Wray Road –– the nearest fire department is requested to attend but must seek approval through the Provincial Emergency Coordination Centre and only for the purposes of rescuing people, said a statement from the Sunshine Coast Regional District's senior manager of Emergency and Protective Services Andy Bellerby. Approval does not include fire suppression efforts beyond a rescue, said Bellerby.
"Without this approval, firefighters do not have workers’ compensation and liability coverage while at a scene," said the statement.
Monday, initially the Gibsons department didn't receive approval to attend the fire but following reports that some people from the home were unaccounted for, the department received approval to attend. However, once on-scene, the firefighters were informed everyone had been located safe. "Following the guidance provided by Emergency Management and Climate Readiness and understanding that firefighters did not have workers’ compensation and liability coverage while at scene, they had to leave," said Bellerby's statement.
Updated 4:39 p.m.
RCMP say Capilano Highway Services has taken charge of controlling traffic and will remain onsite until it's deemed safe for Port Mellon Highway to reopen.
Updated 4:01 p.m.
Sunshine Coast RCMP say on Facebook: "Traffic is being rerouted down Cascadia Pkwy and Wray Rd in both directions."
Original story
As of 3:38 p.m., the Sunshine Coast RCMP report the 1800 block of the Port Melon Hwy is closed due to a fire.
They ask that all please refrain from travel in the area.
Witness Ian Winn, says the fire appears to have started more than an hour ago after the owner said he heard an explosion in his garage and managed to get out of the home just before it went up in flames.
“And the home is still burning. I'm still standing here looking at it. It's just going to burn down to the ground,” said Winn. “The fire department won't come and respond to it. So, I heard about it and I came to see if we could get any fire pumps or any anything on scene here with the neighborhood, but it was too far gone.”
Coast Reporter will update this story as more information becomes available.
