A truck and camper were destroyed by fire along Tow Hill Road Saturday afternoon, but a rapid response from local emergency crews prevented the blaze from spreading to nearby homes, dry forest and the salmon-bearing waters of Chown Brook.
Chris Ashurst was participating in the North End Open disc golf tournament at the Tow Hill Community Kiosk course when he noticed a large column of black smoke rising into the sky around 4:45 p.m.
"I saw a billowing black cloud that could only be a cabin fire, or something similar," Ashurst said.
He drove toward the smoke and found a white truck and camper fully engulfed near the intersection of Tow Hill Road and Eagle Road.
After confirming everyone was safely out of the vehicle and no one was believed to be inside, Ashurst put on an emergency vest from his truck and began directing traffic until emergency crews arrived.
The Village of Masset Volunteer Fire Department responded first, followed by RCMP, BC Emergency Health Services and the Old Massett Volunteer Fire Department.
Ashurst said exploding propane cylinders and fuel tanks, along with burning fuel running toward a nearby bridge, threatened surrounding properties, dry vegetation and nearby Chown Brook. Firefighters quickly brought the blaze under control before it could spread.
In a social media post following the fire, Ashurst praised the response.
"Huge shout out to the dedicated first responders that raced out to attend to a vehicle fire along Tow Hill Road," he wrote. "Thankfully nobody was injured, and after the rapid response of Masset & Old Massett Volunteer Fire Departments, RCMP, and BC Ambulance the flames were eventually doused."
The cause of the fire has not been released.