BARRHEAD – More than a dozen Barrhead Regional Fire Services (BRFS) fire firefighters received an unwanted early morning wake-up call.
At about 3:50 a.m. on Oct. 24, BRFS responded to reports of a structure fire at a residence on 53rd Avenue near 44th Street.
When firefighters arrived, they found a shed in the back of the property near the alley and two nearby garages on fire.
BRFS chief Gary Hove said the homeowners did not know the structures were on fire until the RCMP knocked on their doors.
"They spotted a plume of smoke and went to investigate," he said, adding when they arrived, the shed was already in full burn and had spread to garages on either side of the shed.
When firefighters arrived after being called by police, Hove said, the shed was fully involved, and both garages had significant fire damage.
"The one on the east side, the roof was on fire, and the garage on the other side, the fire went in through the eaves and was inside that garage," he said.
Hove added that there was also an older pickup truck and a holiday camper close on the other side of one of the garages that also suffered damage.
He said some items in the back of the pickup had caught, while the holiday camper suffered relatively minor damage to its exterior awning.
In total, 15 firefighters responded in Engine 37 and Engine 33.
Hove commended his firefighters for their efforts.
"The crews did a great job. They got the fires under control quickly, and although the garages suffered severe damage, they did not burn completely down, and they ensured that it did not spread to any other nearby structures," he said.
And EMS and three RCMP members also attended.
As for the cause of the fire, Hove called it somewhat suspicious but said it is difficult to say definitively what caused the shed to catch fire.
"All we really know is that the shed was on fire. Whether it was accidental or on purpose, we just don't know," he said, adding firefighters did not find any signs of an extension cord going to the shed.
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
