The cause of a fire on Railway Avenue that sent one man to hospital, heavily damaged two duplex homes and displaced five people remains undetermined, but fire investigators have a good idea what happened after it started.
Capt. Ennis Mond, Nanaimo Fire Rescue chief fire prevention officer, said Wednesday the fire started on a shelving unit in the living room of the rear suite of 644 Railway Ave.
“There were some remnants of a propane cylinder and candles there,” Mond said. “Witnesses said he smoked and used to burn candles.”
The occupant, who was burned and remains in hospital in Victoria, allegedly tried to put out the fire himself and with help from the owner of the duplex.
“The actions of the people caused the delay … Their intent was good, but their actions were delayed,” said Mond, who interviewed the occupants and owner of the duplex.
The fire progressed until it was out of control. When the landlord, who lived in the adjoining suite, opened the door to the rear suite, oxygen rushed in and caused a flash-over – an explosion created by oxygen suddenly mixing with hot combustible gases that had accumulated in the room – that blew out the living room and kitchen windows and ignited the fence and exterior of the duplex next door at 642 Railway Ave.
“We know the area of origin. We know the actions of the people at that house. It’s our feeling they were trying to put the fire out themselves and then when they opened that back door they let oxygen into the unit where the occupant was trying to put the fire out,” Mond said.
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