Occupants injured, pets killed in Nanaimo house fire

“Two were transported to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital by BC Ambulance paramedics, they had burns to their hands, and one was treated on scene by ambulance for smoke inhalation,” McKenzie said, who noted their crews were able to quickly knock the fire down.

He said it appears the occupants attempted to fight the fire, as well as rescue their pets.

Two cats perished in the fire, McKenzie said, who stated their crews rescued a pair of rabbits and a guinea pig.

McKenzie said the home’s bottom level sustained significant fire and smoke damage, while substantial smoke damage impacted the top floor.

He said working smoke alarms were vital in alerting the residents to the fire, with two occupants awake, and one asleep at the time.

An NFR investigation conducted on Monday could not pinpoint a cause of the fire considered non-suspicious, according to McKenzie.

“There was significant damage to the garage area, evidence can be lost with the fire if it’s intense enough and there’s no cause determined,” McKenzie told NanaimoNewsNOW.

He noted the garage contained a heavy volume of items which added to the fire’s growth.

McKenzie said while the home’s occupants don’t have renter’s insurance, they do have alternate housing arrangements for the time being.

The home is uninhabitable indefinitely, McKenzie relayed.

This incident serves as an important public reminder to keep doors closed in your home, McKenzie stated.

In this case, several doors were open, which McKenzie said contributed to the fire’s expansion.

He said doors kept closed can significantly reduce a fire’s spread by preventing hot fiery gasses from being fed by fresh air.

In addition, McKenzie said closed doors allow occupants more time to escape.

“Closed doors are absolutely critical for preventing fire spread and buying firefighters more time to arrive and be able to extinguish the fire and rescue people,” McKenzie said.

NFR crews managed to quickly contain the fire, ensuring it did spread beyond the impacted address. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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by Ian Holmes

Occupants injured, pets killed in Nanaimo house fire

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