House Fire Update

Screams at four o'clock Wednesday morning woke up one Vernon woman who looked out to see the house next door on fire. Pat Weston says her neighbours, Larry and Sue Steele, lost everything as fire swept through the 100-year-old brick heritage home at 5001-27th Avenue. She says Steele had to ``heroically'' pull his wife out through the bedroom window to save her life. The woman had undergone surgery last week and, Weston says, she is in plenty of pain. The pair was able to save some pet dogs but lost cats and birds in the fire. Weston has set up a trust fund for the Steeles at the Vantage One Credit Union because they had no contents insurance.  

Deputy fire chief Rick Owens says the fire began on or near the front veranda before breaching the house. He says there is substantial damage to the kitchen and part of the attic and smoke damage throughout the main floor. The cause is not yet known.

Kate Bouey - Vernon