House Fire Video Sparks Controversy

Written by Glen Morrison 107.5 KISSFM Thursday, 08 May 2014 12:06

A house fire in Vernon sparked a bit of controversy as well as a likely destroyed home. Deputy fire chief Jack Blair says they arrived around 10:30 Saturday morning at the old home in the 2800 block 35th Street to find flames and smoke coming out of the windows. He says it was a challenge as the 1940's house had wood chip insulation. Blair says it's likely a write off, but fortunately there were no injuries. He says the cause is undetermined but not suspicious. "It may have been smoker's materials or a candle. It appears to have started either on the bed or beside the bed," says Blair. The controversy came with a YouTube video of what appeared to be only two fire fighters on the blaze and asking for bystanders help with a hose. "He (firefighter) thought those two guys are there, 'Hey would you mind?' But it doesn't show that on the (video), where the hose was. Was it jammed under something or whatever? So, right or wrong, he did what he felt he had to do to try and save the houses next door," Blair tells Kiss FM. Blair says they actually had 4 to 6 crew there, and the firefighters were running lines to save those nearby houses.