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Fire tears through rental home

Four people displaced after blaze guts bedroom of rental suite on Selby Street
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A fire that gutted a bedroom in a rental home on Selby Street in Nanaimo Wednesday has displaced four people. There were no reported injuries. (CHRIS BUSH/The News Bulletin)

Four people have been displaced after a fire ripped through the bedroom of a rental house in Nanaimo’s Old City Quarter on Wednesday night.

Firefighters responded to 413 Selby St. shortly after 11 p.m. where fire had engulfed the a bedroom at the front of the house.

“The fire was contained to the front bedroom, but there’s smoke damage throughout the rest of the house,” said Kevin Lillingston, Nanaimo Fire Rescue fire prevention officer.

All occupants had exited the structure safely and there were no reported injuries, said Capt. Ennis Mond, Nanaimo Fire Rescue chief fire prevention officer.

Karen Lindsay, Nanaimo Emergency Services coordinator, said the occupants did not have renter’s insurance. They were given 72 hours lodging through Nanaimo’s Emergency Social Services program.

“That gives them food, clothing and shelter for three days and then they’ll have to utilize systems that they’re already part of or family and friends,” Lindsay said.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.



Chris Bush

About the Author: Chris Bush

As a photographer/reporter with the Nanaimo News Bulletin since 1998.
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