Two people were transported to hospital with serious burns and two homes were destroyed after a Sunday morning house fire in Area D.
At approximately 8:30 a.m. on March 5, crews from the Campbell River Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at 182 Lennea Place, off Craig Road in Area D of Strathcona Regional District, according to a press release from the City of Campbell River.
On arrival, crews found the home at 182 Lennea Place fully involved in fire and the fire threating homes on either side at 178 and 190 Lennea Place.
“Even with the great distance between the homes in this rural area, the heat from the burning home was so intense that the neighbouring homes were threatened,” says fire chief Ian Baikie. “With the one home fully engulfed in flames, fire crews attempted to stop the fire from spreading to the two nearby homes.”
The home at 182 Lennea Place was completely destroyed.
Fire caused significant damage to the attic and roof structure before it was extinguished in the home at 190 Lennea Place.
Minor damage to windows and siding occurred on the home at 178 Lennea Place.
“With such potential for spreading, this is one of the worst fires our crews have faced,” Baikie adds. “Two firefighters also had minor injuries, and the destruction of the two homes has displaced three people.”
Emergency Social Services provided lodging, clothing and food for three days for one person displaced from 190 Lennea Place.
Area D in Strathcona Regional District receives fire protection services under contract from the City of Campbell River.
“Crews responded immediately to the call for assistance in this southern portion of the fire protection area. Unfortunately, the fire was well under way by the time it was reported,” Baikie says. “Please, make sure your home is equipped with at least one working smoke alarm to ensure prompt warning and evacuation in the unlikely event of a home fire.”
The fire department had 20 firefighters in four fire vehicles on scene for four hours and a crew of four until nightfall on Sunday.
The fire investigation will be conducted later this week to determine the cause of the fire and value of property destroyed.