Monica Odenwald left her house on Third Avenue to pick up her daughter from a dance class at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 8. Twenty minutes later, she returned to find her house on fire.
B次元官网网址淚 lived there for 10 years and raised my kids there as a single parent,B次元官网网址� the Port Alberni woman said, standing on the boulevard that dissects Third Avenue near Bruce Street and watching firefighters attack the fire from multiple angles.
B次元官网网址淚 was picking up my daughter from danceB次元官网网址verything seemed fine.B次元官网网址�
Port Alberni Fire Department Chief Mike Owens said the two-storey house was already fully involved when crews arrived shortly after receiving a call at 8:48 p.m.
B次元官网网址淲hen we arrived on scene there was heavy fire and smoke already,B次元官网网址� Owens said. B次元官网网址淥ur crews went to work right away trying to suppress the fire and contain it to the building of origin.B次元官网网址�
There was some concern that the fire might spread to the house immediately south of OdenwaldB次元官网网址檚 because it is so close. B次元官网网址淲e were successful in preventing the fire from spreading to that house,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a stubborn, entrenched fire right now.B次元官网网址� Crews had the ladder up and were trying to get some different vantage points to suppress the flames that were still burning through the roof more than an hour after firefighters arrived on scene.
Neighbours and people who had seen the fire and called 911 lined the sidewalk across from the house. B次元官网网址淚 used to live in that house in Grade 5,B次元官网网址� said Aaron Franks. He and his mother and two younger brothers spent a year living in the house. He pointed to a window where flames could still be seen: B次元官网网址淭hat used to be my bedroom,B次元官网网址� he said.
Selena Garcia lives on Fourth Avenue but saw the flames and thought the house immediately behind her was on fire. Garcia and other neighbours were concerned for OdenwaldB次元官网网址檚 three cats, who hadnB次元官网网址檛 been seen since the fire broke out.
B次元官网网址淚 just hope my cats are OK,B次元官网网址� Odenwald said. B次元官网网址淚f anyone around this neighbourhood around Bruce Street has seen my little black, fluffy cat, or my big grey fluffy cat, or my tabby cat, I hope they made it out the back.B次元官网网址�
She asked if anyone spots her cats to call the Alberni-Clayoquot branch of the SPCA (250-723-5269).
Odenwald lost her job last October and had recently started a new one, working from home. B次元官网网址淗opefully I find a place to work from,B次元官网网址� she said. She was waiting for someone from emergency services to come and talk to her about a place to stay for the night. One of her neighbours brought a blanket for her to put over her hoodie, so she would stay warm.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not sure of the cause of the fireB次元官网网址tB次元官网网址檚 an older house, built in 1955. ItB次元官网网址檚 been a good house. A lot of memories there. But nothing left of it.B次元官网网址�
susie.quinn@albernivalleynews.com
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