Columbia Valley Pioneer Staff

A May 28 electrical fire at a residence under construction in Invermere was reportedly caused by an underground wire.

Invermere Fire Rescue (IFR) responded to the fire at approximately 10:30 a.m. last Sunday in the Pineridge area. The fire was out by the time crews arrived; an individual on scene used a fire extinguisher.

IFR reported the cause to be ground settling in the area where an electrical wire was buried. “This movement in the ground caused the wire to be stretched and shorted out,” IFR said.

There was no information released on the extent of damage, if any.

On the same day, IFR crews were dispatched to Radium for a single-vehicle rollover at approximately 12 a.m. However, crews were called off by Radium fire officials after discovering the vehicle’s occupant was not at the scene.

The next day (May 29), IFR was dispatched to the 800 block of 13th Avenue for a basement fire alarm activation at approximately 11:30 a.m. When crews arrived, they learned that a contractor had accidentally set off the alarm.