Surrey resident suffers life-threatening injuries in house fire

A Surrey resident is in hospital with life-threatening injuries after an explosion and house fire in the Cloverdale neighbourhood Friday.

Shortly after 4:30 p.m., RCMP and fire crews were called out to the fire in the 16900-block of Jersey Drive.

A single occupant with life-threatening injuries was transported by helicopter to hospital.

Investigators said they don’t believe the fire was arson or extortion-related and would likely have more information on Monday. The RCMP’s provincial operations support unit has taken over the investigation.

Surrey assistant fire chief Mike McNamara said when firefighters arrived, flames were coming from the ground floor of the two-storey, older style wood house. 

He said one man was already outside the home suffering from significant burns. The man, in his 20s, was treated by paramedics before being airlifted to hospital.

McNamara said the fire was contained to the house and did not spread to any neighbouring residences. He said the house has major damage and is uninhabitable.

Fire investigators are working with RCMP to determine the cause of the explosion and fire.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the SPS non-emergency line at 604-599-0502, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

ticrawford@postmedia.com

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