An encampment in the bush off Schook Rd. in north Nanaimo burned after a propane tank vented and sparked a sizeable brush fire Tuesday morning. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

BANG

VIDEO: Fire sparked by venting propane tank at north Nanaimo encampment

Aug 24, 2021 | 12:17 PM

NANAIMO — A propane tank in bush encampment sparked a brush fire near a popular north Nanaimo sports field.

Nanaimo Fire Rescue and Lantzville Fire Rescue deployed several units just after 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 24 to Schook Rd., opposite May Richards Bennett Pioneer Park.

11-year-old Clifford Wolff was at the nearby skatepark with friends when he began to see smoke.

“All we saw was this big puff of smoke and it kept coming up. I called 911. We heard popping and crackling when it went off.”

Robert Nichol, who went into the bush and witnessed the fire, said it came from what appeared to be a homeless encampment in the bush, just off Schook Rd.

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“[The fire] wasn’t very big but it was touching the trees. But when the propane tank exploded, we were already out.”

The fire sent thick columns of black smoke billowing into the air.

Nanaimo Fire Rescue acting captain Ian Stenberg told NanaimoNewsNOW his crews were on scene within minutes thanks to the quick reporting from people nearby.

“We had a good amount of flame and smoke showing, we had a 20 pound propane cylinder which was venting which is a concern but we got water on it pretty quick and we were able to knock it down within minutes.”

The fire was technically in Lantzville Fire Rescue’s jurisdiction, however Stenberg said they weren’t going to just watch it burn.

Crews on scene estimated the fire to be 20 by 30 feet in size.

Stenberg added it was a dangerous situation which could have escalated quickly.

“It’s obviously very dangerous this time of year, everything is very dry. Luckily there wasn’t any wind today which didn’t push it which is a main concern. We were able to get a line on it, get water on it pretty quick, which makes all the difference in the world.”

No injuries were reported from the fire.

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