Firefighters assemble outside a home on 105th St. on Thursday night after knocking down flames at a home. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

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NANAIMO — One person was taken to hospital for smoke inhilation after a dinner hour fire.

Fire Rescue crews were called out to a home in the 2700 block of 105th St. just before 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 1 after the upstairs homeowner called 911 to report a fire in the basement suite of their home.

Acting Capt. Jeff Croft told NanaimoNewsNOW on scene Thursday night, crews arrived to heavy smoke and fire coming from a corner in the suite.

“We believe it may have been a [heating] stove but it’s under investigation at this time. The whole lower floor [sustained] smoke, fire and water damage, we were able to stop it before it spread to the upstairs.”

Firefighters made quick work of the fire, but not before a big plume of smoke and steam extended high into the night sky and was visible across a large section of Nanaimo.

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No-one was at home in the suite at the time, however Croft said a family of six was upstairs having dinner when flames broke out.

One person was taken to hospital for smoke inhalation after a fire at a 105th St. home on Thursday night. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

The homeowner was taken to hospital by ambulance to be treated for smoke inhalation.

Croft said the entire house uninhabitable at this time. He added the homeowner was insured, and the insurance company will determine if the structure can be repaired or if the property will be demolished.

It was not clear whether the downstairs tenant was covered.

“This time of year with colder temperatures, mae sure your heating devices are working properly. Space heaters cannot be plugged into extension cords and any heating device needs to have clearance around it.”

Multiple engines attended the scene, while Nanaimo RCMP cordoned off a block of Victoria Ave. between 104th St. and 105th St. to allow Fire Rescue to run a hydrant line.

The bottom floor of a home on 105th St. in Nanaimo was severely damaged by fire around dinner on Thursday, Dec. 1. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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