Nelson Fire Rescue responds to electrical fire at Kootenay Co-op
By Nelson Daily Staff
Residents of Nelson Commons on Vernon Street in Nelson received an early-morning wakeup call after fire alarms were triggered by smoke coming from one of the freezers inside the Kootenay Co-op grocery store.
Nelson Fire Rescue said the hall received the call of smoke coming from one of the retail freezer units in the store at 7:11 a.m. Thursday.
Both on duty members responded immediately with additional members responding from home.
“The fire alarm system for the building was activated which initiated an evacuation of the store and the residential units above it,” the Nelson Fire Rescue media release said.
When fire crews arrived, evacuation of the building was already in progress.
“One freezer had indications of an electrical fire with smoke in and around the unit,” the release said.
“The first arriving crew’s primary objective was to ensure that the fire had not spread beyond the freezer and to isolate the power to the unit.”
Firefighters responded to the incident with one fire engine, and two utility vehicles. There were no injuries reported with damage is estimated at $2500.
Nelson Fire Rescue said the cause of the fire is still under investigation by Nelson Fire & Rescue Services and Technical Safety BC Electrical Branch.
Nelson Fire & Rescue Services would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone to ensure they have working smoke alarms in their homes.
Landlords are required to ensure there are working smoke alarms in their rental units and tenants are obligated to test them monthly.
