Two adults and two children were taken to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital for possible smoke inhalation after their home caught fire early this morning.
Firefighters responded to an alarm for a house fire in the 700 block of Shoreline Drive on Snuneymuxw First Nation reserve land shortly before 1:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 22.
“We had a multiple-unit response, as we do with structure fires,” said Troy Libbus, Nanaimo Fire Rescue assistant chief. “Crews responded quickly and, upon arrival, we had a two-storey, single-family residence with smoke showing.”
He said all occupants had exited the home when firefighters arrived and it was quickly determined a fire had started in the kitchen located on the second storey at the back of the building.
“Crews entered quickly, did a knockdown and did a primary and secondary search to determine it was all clear, nobody in the house,” Libbus said.
A mother and children who live in the home were transported to NRGH for treatment for possible smoke inhalation. Another family member, who was not a resident of the home, was also taken to hospital for possible smoke inhalation.
“It sounds like he was assisting the family,” Libbus said.
The assistant chief said the fire caused “extensive damage” in the kitchen and smoke damage throughout the house. The cause of the fire is under investigation.