By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

Candles ruled as cause of fatal Nanaimo house fire

Oct 13, 2017 | 5:38 PM

NANAIMO — Everyday candles are being blamed for a tragic house fire where a family of three were found deceased.

Nanaimo Fire Rescue chief Karen Fry said candles found in the kitchen of the home in the 700 block of Nicol St. were the cause of the fire and it is ruled an accident. The family of three, including a seven-year-old, were found by the firefighters when they arrived around 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 10.

Fry couldn’t speculate on the cause of death or where the family were discovered inside the house.

“It appears to us the fire had been going for some time,” and quietly spread throughout the house, Fry said. Investigators found no evidence the smoke alarms inside worked.

“It’s been a very tough week for Nanaimo,” she said. “This family was involved in the community and a lot of people knew them. People we work with had known them. Anytime we lose a family and children it’s heartbreaking. We’re grieving with the family, friends, community and our firefighters are hurting as well.”

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Fry said smoke detectors are the number-one life saver in a fiery situation and reiterated her call to the community to check theirs.

Nanaimo RCMP confirmed their investigation has wrapped up as well and nothing was found to indicate any criminality. The BC Coroners Service is now taking over the investigation.

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