A fire was quickly put out Saturday night in Maple Ridge after firefighters spotted a flicker of flames while driving past the property.
Crews were on 127th Avenue to investigate another call when they noticed a garage on fire around 11:15 p.m.
The blaze gutted the garage, but crews kept it from spreading to the rest of the house.
Eight people were home when the fire started.
“It was very lucky because the occupants were out back with friends and they wouldn’t have noticed the fire until it broke through a window,” said assistant fire chief Mark Smitton.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Although the fire did not spread to the house, Smitton reminded homeowners and tenants to check their smoke alarms monthly.
Horse, rider rescued
A man was injured Friday while riding a horse on a trail in east Maple Ridge.
The rider was on an annual camping trip in Allco Park, organized by the Haney Horsemen’s Association.
He was heading up a trail to cross the Alouette River when his horse took a tumble and fell 15 metres down an embankment.
“It is fairly slippery in that section,” Smitton said.
The man managed to crawl back onto the trail while firefighters cut back brush to reach the horse.
The man was taken to hospital for a checkup and a vet was called to tend to the horse.
“It was a good outcome considering how serious it could have been,” Smitton added.
In particular, Smitton commended a young rider who was nearby when the horse took a tumble. The Grade 8 student from Garibaldi secondary rode back for help.
“She was really good and gave us information on where the rider was and what the problem was,” he said.
“When people are on a trail, background information on where exactly they are is very important.”
Mill fire contained
A fire at a Maple Ridge sawmill was quickly contained Monday evening.
The fire started in the conveyor system of the mill on Lougheed Highway, near 287th Street.
Smitton said a driver spotted smoke and called 911 around 6:30 p.m.
“No structures were in danger,” he added.
Four fire trucks responded to the call and remained on scene for about an hour.
Hot Summer Nights
During evenings throughout July and August, members of the fire departments in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows will be at various locations throughout the communities ready to answer burning questions from the public.
Locations for remaining July dates, beginning at 6:30 p.m., in Maple Ridge:
• Thursday, July 24 – Tolmie Park – 20260 Lorne Avenue;
• Thursday, July 31 – Docksteader Loop – Foreman Drive.
Maple Ridge residents hoping for a Hot Summer Night in their neighborhood in August, can still make requests.
The department warns extreme inclement weather or emergency calls could impact their attendance for any of the scheduled evenings.
In Pitt Meadows, locations and times for remaining July and August dates:
• Saturday, July 26, 4 –7 p.m., 19177 – 117A Ave.;
• Saturday, Aug. 9, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Osprey Village, 1095B Barnston View Road;
Friday, Aug. 22, 6-8 p.m., Ford Road Housing Co-op, 19041 Ford Road;
Sunday, Aug. 31, 3–5 p.m., 11956 – 195B Street.