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Fourth house burns in two months in rural community south of Nanaimo

House fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived and likely total loss, fire chief says
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A fire that broke out early Friday, May 26, has destroyed the fourth home in Extension since March 28. (Photo: Brent Hedberg)

Another house has been destroyed by fire in the Extension area south of Nanaimo.

Firefighters from Extension and Cranberry volunteer fire departments were called to a home fully engulfed in flames on Colwell Road shortly before at about 12:30 a.m. Friday, May 26.

Ron Gueulette, Cranberry Fire Department chief, said his fire department provided mutual aid to Extension Volunteer Fire Department by ferrying water to the fire scene for several hours, but was not otherwise involved the firefighting efforts.

He did not have information about what might have sparked the blaze. All occupants got out of the house safely except for one pet, a gerbil that belonged to tenants who lived in the downstairs portion of the home.

“We recovered the poor little fellow and returned it to the residents in its little box, so that was kind of a sad little deal,” said Kevin Young, Extension Volunteer Fire Department chief.

He said a woman and her two daughters who were home at the time of the fire escaped safely. The residents who live in the upstairs of the house were not home at the time and the fire appears to have started in the upstairs portion of the house, although the cause is still under investigation.

Brent Hedberg, father of the homeowner, who lives in a carriage house on the property, said the tenant banged on his door to alert him to the fire.

“I ran outside and saw flames above the roof line and smoke pouring out out of the roof vents, like a furnace,” Hedberg said.

He did not know if the tenants have renters insurance.

Young said Nanaimo RCMP and B.C. Ambulance also responded and emergency social services was also activated.

“We were on scene with 15 personnel. Cranberry provided mutual aid with two tenders and a command truck,” Young said. “We had the fire knocked down by about 2:30 in the morning and we stayed until about seven in the morning to knock down flare ups and some hot spots. The structure is still standing, but it is likely a total loss.”

Young said this is the fourth serious house fire his department has fought in Extension since March 28.

“Unfortunately I’m getting pretty good at this because we’ve had four in a row,” he said.

Young said the fires are unrelated.

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chris.bush@nanaimobulletin.com

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Chris Bush

About the Author: Chris Bush

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