Prince Rupert Fire Rescue has released a statement regarding the fire in the downtown core this morning.
Prince Rupert Fire Rescue was dispatched to a possible structure fire in the rear of 659 2nd Ave. west at 9:20 p.m.. Upon arrival, first arriving fire crews could see pressurized smoke coming from the 1st and second floor and fire coming from the rear door of the structure. The building is classified as mixed occupancy having a business on the first floor and apartments on the second. Crews had on unaccounted for resident and rescued the occupant from the second floor by using a ladder.
The firefighters then proceeded to fight the fire from the inside but due to the buildings age, construction and void spaces the fire progressed rapidly. Firefighters withdrew from the building and began fighting the fire from the outside. Due to close proximity of row businesses, heavy equipment was called in to knockdown the building and create a fire beak.
“Due to the extreme difficulty of fighting the dangerous fire and the real possibility of losing several businesses or even a block, the main fire building was torn down to create a fire break. “Said Deputy Fire Chief Chad Cooper.
14 firefighters were on the scene with no injuries reported. The occupant that was rescued was treated and transported to hospital for observation.
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