Nanaimo firefighters battled a house fire in Nanaimo’s Hawthorne neighbourhood this afternoon.
Crews were called to the 600 block of Sarum Rise Way on Friday, Jan. 12, at about 12:30 p.m. to find a house ablaze.
The seniors who own the home and their dog were out of the house when the fire broke out and there were no injuries, but neighbouring homes were also evacuated to get occupants away from heavy smoke coming from the burning home and as a precaution in case the blaze spread.
David Dales, Nanaimo Fire Rescue assistant chief, said there were multiple calls to 911 alerting emergency services to the fire.
Five fire trucks from fire stations across the city responded to the alarm.
“We had visible smoke and flame from the rear of the house,” Dales said. “Our first-in engine came in. They were quickly notified that the house was unoccupied. All residents were evacuated and they had a quick knockdown of the fire, but there was some extension into some wall space and the attic space.”
The fire that worked its way into the home’s attic proved to be stubborn to snuff out and firefighters battled the blaze for about 90 minutes to fully bring it under control.
There was no damage to neighbouring homes and the fire was contained to the property.
Dales said the fire started at outside at the back of the house and fire investigators were on scene trying to determine the cause.
“Because it was to the exterior, the fire probably lasted a little longer because there are no smoke detectors on the outside, so the fire probably got to a stage before our arrival that required us to be here as long as we are,” he said.
One incident that could have hindered firefighting efforts occurred with the driver of a pickup truck pulling a trailer allegedly moved traffic cones blocking access to Sarum Rise Way and then drove over a fire hose that was in use connecting a fire hydrant to a pumper truck. The pickup’s tires made it over the fire hose, but the trailer wheels began to drag the fire hose down the street before RCMP on scene could stop the vehicle.
“When have a structure fire we always attach one of our large-volume hoses to the hydrant,” Dales said. “Unfortunately someone disobeyed traffic cones and they ran over our hose. This is extremely dangerous. Not only does it ruin the hose [and] it potentially could cause significant damage to a fire truck, but more importantly, if we had firefighters in that house and they lost that water they would have to evacuate … If you see a fire hose, do not drive over it.”
Nanaimo Fire Rescue, RCMP,BC Ambulance at fully involved house fire Sarum Rise Way. No word yet on injuries or cause.#Fire @NanaimoBulletin pic.twitter.com/SShUCDGgWO
— Chris Bush (@ChrisBushphotog) January 12, 2024
Nanaimo Fire Rescue, RCMP,BC Ambulance at fully involved house fire Sarum Rise Way. No word yet on injuries or cause.#Fire @NanaimoBulletin pic.twitter.com/MDlYOzejbD
— Chris Bush (@ChrisBushphotog) January 12, 2024
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