A home sustained minor damage to the siding after a fire which reportedly started in a vehicle spread to the home and a neighbouring fence. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

house fire

Two homes damaged after fire breaks out in north Nanaimo neighbourhood

May 14, 2024 | 3:22 PM

NANAIMO — Fire has caused considerable damage to a north end home after initially starting near a parked vehicle.

Calls to 911 from the homeowner and others came in just before 3 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14 to a home in the 5200 block of Hammond Bay Rd., near Fillinger Cres., where a vehicle and surrounding shrubs near a two-bay garage reportedly caught fire before spreading to the home and neighbouring fence.

Acting Capt. Matt Burke said on scene smoke and flames were spotted on arrival by crews.

“There was a fire started with the cedar hedge, it went into the neighbouring van and then some children’s boats on the side of the house. It melted up some siding and some decks [on both homes], but didn’t get into any of the structures.”

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Crews closed traffic along Hammond Bay Rd., between Entwhistle Dr. and Toms Turnabout., with detours in place around residential streets of the north Nanaimo neighbourhood. Fire crews were able to re-open the roadway around 4:30 p.m.

Flames were extinguished after about 10 minutes on scene, while clean-up work continued after.

Three people were in one of the affected homes at the time of the fire, including a young child. A dog was also rescued from the home.

One person was in a neighbouring property.

Burke said one of the homeowners suffered superficial burns trying to douse the fire, while also moving the vehicle involved.

“The vehicle was moved previous to us getting here,” Burke added. “It sustained damage from being close to the hedge. I don’t know the extent of the fire when they moved it, but it did take damage while they were moving it.”

A BC Hydro utility pole was also reported damaged by Nanaimo Fire Rescue crews while natural gas lines were also shut off as a precaution.

The incident is not expected to displace any residents from either property and the official cause of the fire remains under investigation.

A hedge and fence between two properties on Hammond Bay Rd. was torched due to an afternoon fire. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Crews found smoke and flames visible upon arrival with multiple engines responding. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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