A home in the 100 block of Doric Ave. was destroyed after a fire around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday evening. Occupants suffered smoke inhalation but were otherwise uninjured. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

ablaze

VIDEO: Late evening fire destroys Nanaimo family home

May 18, 2022 | 9:30 AM

NANAIMO — A family home was destroyed by a late evening fire, forcing its occupants to escape quickly.

Fire Rescue crews were called out at around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 17 to a home in the 100 block of Doric Ave., near Second St. and Fairview Elementary School.

Assistant fire chief Geoff Whiting told NanaimoNewsNOW four stations responded and found the house already fully inflamed even with fire crews being on scene within minutes after diverting from a medical aid call.

“On arrival, crews found heavy fire from the house, and it was also involving two vehicles and a tent trailer in the driveway.”

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Whiting said crews were able to knock the fire down fairly quickly and spent the next few hours on the scene making sure there were no flare-ups.

One resident was immediately transported to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital suffering from possible smoke inhalation. Most of the other residents were also eventually sent to NRGH for observation.

“Everyone was removed safely from the home. I believe everyone was out on arrival of our crews, so they had self-evacuated.”

There is significant damage to the house, as well as some minor damage to the neighbouring homes.

Whiting said firefighters were concerned about the fire spreading.

“Because of the intensity of the fire there was potential for it to spread to the neighbouring structure but crews managed to prevent that… the house where the fire originated was heavily damaged.”

Investigators were on scene Wednesday morning trying to determine the cause of the blaze.

No firefighters were injured during the incident.

As of Tuesday night, the status of a house cat was still unsure.

The house, two vehicles, and a tent trailer were all damaged by the fire. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

A neighbour told NanaimoNewsNOW there were six kids in total in the house, five between the ages of 2-12 and one 18-year-old, who all made it out safely thanks to their father.

“The parents came out with the youngest kids down the front stairs.. then [the father] ran back into the house because he didn’t see his nine and 11-year-old, he didn’t see them so he went back into the house. But they had raced out the back door and were out on the back lawn, so they were safe.”

He said the support from their neighbours was immediate.

“After I got here the neighbours were showing up with bags of used clothing to help out because the kids were all in their pj’s, so it was very positive.”

Little remains of a home following a fire Tuesday evening in the 100 block of Doric Ave. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

A GoFundMe has been set up to help raise money for the displaced family.

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