A man was airlifted to hospital with serious burns and a woman is missing after a house fire in Mission on Monday morning (June 15).
First responders attended the 31700 block of Townshipline Avenue between Clay Street and Keystone Avenue just after 8 a.m. for a residence that was fully engulfed.
Firefighters found a 69-year-old man with serious burns shortly after arriving, Mission RCMP said.
BC Emergency Health Services paramedic public information officer Brian Twaites said emergency medical treatment was provided to the patient who was later taken to hospital by helicopter in serious condition.
Police say a 46-year-old woman — believed to have been inside the house at the time of the fire — has not been found.
“While the cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed, it is not believed to be suspicious,” the detachment said.
To ensure safety of fire crews, Fortis BC and BC Hydro attended to shut off utilities. In addition to Mission Fire Rescue Service and Mission RCMP, two ambulances responded to the call with primary care paramedics, as well as an ambulance with advanced care paramedics, an air ambulance with critical care paramedics, and a paramedic supervisor.
Townshipline Avenue could remain closed for most of the day while firefighters continue work to extinguish the blaze, RCMP said.
The detachment advises drivers to take an alternate route.