A Coquitlam family is lucky to have escaped without any serious injury after a fire tore through their home at Latimer Avenue and Byng Street at around 5:20 a.m. on Easter Monday.
A father, mother, mother-in-law, child and a cat were all able to get out of the home as flames investigators believe originated in the garage quickly moved through the structure.
"Unfortunately, for this family at Easter, it is tragic," said Coquitlam fire chief Wade Pierlot. "But they did all get out alive. Those 5:20 a.m. fires can be deadly and this one travelled so quickly."
Firefighters were called shortly after one of the occupants of the home awoke to the sound of glass breaking on the side of the house. He saw the flames in the garage and quickly evacuated his family from the home.
"It appears it started in the carport area," Pierlot said. "The carport was located within a meter of the home. When [firefighters] arrived they found the house was fully involved as well."
Six apparatus and close to 25 firefighters attended the call and Pierlot said it did not take long for crews to knock down the blaze.
By the time the flames was contained, most of the main floor of the was gutted and flames were spreading to the upstairs area. A fuel tank in one of the vehicle parked in the garage blew up during the fire.
The family is currently being looked after by the Coquitlam RCMP's Victim Services team.
Don Rosner, a neighbour, told CTV News that he was awoken by his wife and saw the flames and "lots of smoke."
"I could see the flames they were probably 15, 20 feet high," he said.
