A fire at a rural Abbotsford home sent five people to hospital late Friday night.
Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service was called to the home at 140 Mt. Lehman Road at about 11 p.m. When crews arrived, they found the kitchen on fire and smoke coming from the eaves.
Deputy Fire Chief Mike Helmer said the fire started from an unattended pot left on the stove which ignited nearby combustible materials and spread through the range food vent into the attic space.
He said the adult occupants of the home had fallen asleep and were awakened by smoke coming from the kitchen. The man suffered smoke inhalation and cuts to his hand after he broke a window and attempted to extinguish the fire with a garden hose.
He was taken to hospital, as were his wife and three children – ages nine months and five and six years old – as a precaution.
Helmer said 24 firefighters and six trucks from four fire halls fought the fire and were able to contain it after about 10 minutes. Damage to the home is estimated at $50,000.
He said the family was fortunate to escape the fire, as there were no smoke alarms within the home.