NANAIMO — A local home may be a write-off following a damaging house fire.
Nanaimo Fire Rescue (NFR) responded on Sunday, April 19 at 9:20 p.m. to a north Nanaimo home on Fillinger Cres. at Heritage Dr. in response to a fire originating from a home’s garage and front entrance area.
NFR assistant chief John MacKenzie said the home’s three occupants were home at the time.
Nanaimo Fire Rescue crews used a ladder truck to provide additional light while fighting a structure fire at 5171 Fillinger Crescent. (Image Credit: Submitted photo)
“Two were transported to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital by BC Ambulance paramedics, they had burns to their hands, and one was treated on scene by ambulance for smoke inhalation,” MacKenzie said, who noted their crews were able to quickly knock the fire down.
He said it appears the occupants attempted to fight the fire, as well as rescue their pets.
Two cats perished in the fire, MacKenzie said, who stated their crews rescued a pair of rabbits and a guinea pig.
MacKenzie said the home’s bottom level sustained significant fire and smoke damage, while substantial smoke damage impacted the top floor.
He said working smoke alarms were vital in alerting the residents to the fire, with two occupants awake, and one asleep at the time.
An NFR investigation conducted on Monday could not pinpoint a cause of the fire considered non-suspicious, according to MacKenzie.
“There was significant damage to the garage area, evidence can be lost with the fire if it’s intense enough and there’s no cause determined,” MacKenzie told NanaimoNewsNOW.
He noted the garage contained a heavy volume of items which added to the fire’s growth.
MacKenzie said while the home’s occupants don’t have renter’s insurance, they do have alternate housing arrangements for the time being.
The home is uninhabitable indefinitely, MacKenzie relayed.
This incident serves as an important public reminder to keep doors closed in your home, MacKenzie stated.
In this case, several doors were open, which MacKenzie said contributed to the fire’s expansion.
He said doors kept closed can significantly reduce a fire’s spread by preventing hot fiery gasses from being fed by fresh air.
In addition, MacKenzie said closed doors allow occupants more time to escape.
“Closed doors are absolutely critical for preventing fire spread and buying firefighters more time to arrive and be able to extinguish the fire and rescue people,” MacKenzie said.
NFR crews managed to quickly contain the fire, ensuring it did spread beyond the impacted address. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)
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