A house fire Tuesday night in the 8000 block of St. John Crescent in College Heights that sent one occupant of the house to hospital for observation and caused about $500,000 in damage was preceded by a large explosion heard across the neighbourhood, eyewitnesses say.
“We were watching TV and we heard this big boom and I’m telling you - it was big,” Kathy Nadalin said.
Lino and Kathy Nadalin live about four blocks away.
“We both jumped out of our recliners and Lino went to the front door and I went to the back and looked out the window and there was a great big ball of fire shooting up in the air,” Kathy said.
“It was definitely an explosion that led to that fire,” Lino said. “Everybody heard it.”
Eventually the couple went outside to gather with neighbours who heard the noise as well.
Prince George Fire Rescue responded to the report of the fire at about 6:57 p.m. Tuesday.
There were 20 firefighters from three halls at the scene. When crews arrived they found a large volume of flames and smoke coming from the residence.
Crews used handlines and a master stream to extinguish the fire over several hours.
PGFR confirmed on Thursday the fire, which included several small explosions, was a result of unapproved cooking and heating sources and was accidentally caused.
No fire rescue staff were injured during firefighting operations.
