Resident, 2 cats displaced after Surrey townhouse fire

A fire that broke out at a Surrey residence Monday afternoon could have had a much more tragic ending, firefighters say.

Traffic crews with the City of Surrey first reported the fire on Prince Charles Boulevard near 96 Avenue around 2 p.m.

Battalion Chief Jeff Klaassen says Surrey Fire Service crews arrived on scene and quickly extinguished a fire contained to the kitchen.

Klaassen explained that firefighters had to break down the door because no one appeared to be home.

“But there was someone in the basement suite,” Klaassen explained.

“They were not aware of the fire because they did not have working smoke detectors.”

He says the resident and two cats made it out of the home safely, with no injuries.The resident won’t be able to return to the home for the night, Klaassen says, but the result could have been worse if fire crews didn’t arrive in time.

“Another reminder that smoke detectors make the difference,” said Klaassen.

He says an investigation into the cause of the fire is underway.