A small fire in a Townsite Road residential building displaced four people overnight.
Firefighters responded to the alarm at about 7 p.m. Thursday to a triplex at 1575 Townsite Road.
“They were replacing the roof and I guess they were applying torch-on roofing,” said Alan Millbank, Nanaimo Fire Rescue fire prevention officer. “The ceiling joists had a little dry rot in them and that got smouldering. I don’t think there was any flaming fire, but there was definitely smouldering cinders in the roof.”
Firefighters only had to apply a small amount of water to the fire, about 20 litres, Millbank said, but an extensive section of the roof had to be torn open to ascertain the extent of the fire and ensure it was out.
Four residents were displaced overnight and the fire has been listed as accidental.
“The house, I think, is pretty much safe for them to go back to now,” Millbank said Friday.