A home is in ruins but everyone escaped a dramatic early Sunday morning blaze in North Saanich.
Fire crews were called out shortly after 1:30 a.m. on June 9 for multiple reports of a house on fire in the 1100-block of Highview Terrace.
Sidney and Central Saanich fire crews also responded as mutual aid.
“It was quickly determined that these were defensive fire conditions, and our top priority was to protect the surrounding homes and forest from igniting from ember cast and radiant heat,” the department said in a news release.
Crews from all three departments tackled the massive fire from several angles, including an early brush blaze. Command staff also used a new Central Saanich Police Service aerial drone to monitor conditions throughout the fire.
“Although the home that the fire started in is a complete loss, the quick response from all three municipalities staffed halls provided many resources quickly that were efficiently back filled by volunteers and auxiliary members. Approximately 35 firefighters from the three departments were on scene for many hours,” Central Saanich fire said.
North Saanich fire remained on the scene for much of the day dousing hot spots and monitoring the scene.
