FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. - A Fort St. John family is being supported by the community after an overnight duplex fire destroyed their home and belongings..
Fort St. John Firefighters were called to a fully involved structure fire in a two-storey duplex on 94th Street just before midnight Friday.
Crews arrived to find the building engulfed in flames and faced difficult conditions due to strong winds.
Fifteen firefighters and three fire trucks responded to the scene.
Deputy Fire Chief Matt Troiano said the wind made firefighting efforts particularly challenging, but crews were able to prevent the blaze from spreading to nearby homes.
No injuries were reported. The duplex was destroyed and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Antonela Cane escaped with her husband and son. According to information shared through a GoFundMe campaign, the family lost everything in the blaze and only narrowly made it out safely
Cane is halfway through a high-risk pregnancy and had been preparing to welcome a new baby into the family’s home.
Her son, Kai, lost his bedroom, toys and personal belongings in the fire.
Donations raised through the online campaign will assist with temporary accommodation, clothing, household necessities and preparations for the family’s new baby.
Fire officials are reminding residents to ensure smoke alarms are working properly and to regularly test alarms and replace batteries as needed.