A smouldering fire on Groveland Dr. in Nanaimo on Tuesday, April 21 was contained to the living room after the homeowners noticed smoke while returning from a walk. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

close call

‘They were fortunate:’ damage minimized in north Nanaimo house fire

Apr 22, 2020 | 7:22 AM

NANAIMO — A north Nanaimo couple is fortunate a smouldering fire damaging their living room carpet didn’t become more serious.

Nanaimo Fire Rescue (NFR) responded to the Groveland Dr. home near Invermere Rd. at 10:40 a.m Tuesday, April 21 after homeowner Tony Deon and his wife returned from a 45 minute walk with their dog.

Deon said he called 911 after hearing their smoke alarm blaring and seeing smoke mounting in their home.

“If the fire kept on burning in the carpet, which I don’t think it did, then it could have been a disaster,” Deon said.

He briefly entered the home, then called for help.

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“It was smokey, I walked in then walked out.”

The Deons didn’t require medical attention and returned to their home after fire crews left.

NFR fire prevention officer Ennis Mond said on scene the cause of the non-suspicious fire wasn’t immediately known.

“The fire burned through the carpet and the underlay through the concrete sub-floor in about a 10 by 10 section,” he said.

Mond said while cords leading from an undamaged power bar were burned, they don’t appear to the ignition source.

“It could have been much worse,” Mond said. “They were fortunate they came home when they did.”

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes