
One person is dead, and another hospitalized, following a house fire in Blackpool, southwest of Clearwater, on Wednesday.
The fire on Cutts Road — just off the Old North Thompson Highway — broke out over the noon hour.
The Thompson Nicola Regional District is reporting fire crews were unable to enter the home due to the intensity of the blaze, which it says completely collapsed the home within a half-hour of crews arriving.
A man in his 20’s has been described as the person killed.
“One occupant of the home was safely transported to hospital by air ambulance to be treated for burns sustained as a result of the fire. Tragically, a second occupant succumbed to the fire,” said the Regional District in a release.
The cause of the fire remains unknown.
“The fire scene remains active and the site is currently unsafe to enter. Fire crews will access the site when it is safe to do so, and an excavator will be required to move debris,” said the TNRD. “Blackpool Fire Rescue will work with RCMP, the BC Coroners Service, and the Province of BC’s Office of the Fire Commissioner in the days ahead.”