Firefighters were able to extinguish a fire that heavily damaged a home in Nanaimo's Extension area this week.
Emergency personnel were called to a house fire on Ranchview Drive on Monday, Jan. 27, at approximately 3:30 p.m., and firefighters arrived at the scene to find the house fully ablaze.
Crews were able to put out the fire, but the home is uninhabitable. Four people are displaced, including one person who was taken to hospital as a precaution due to smoke inhalation, and two cats were unaccounted for.
Capt. Tom Krall, Nanaimo Fire Rescue, and his crew were first on scene and arrived to see heavy smoke coming from the house.
"We were met by the homeowner who directed me around back," Krall said. "It was fully involved, flames bottom to top floor … From there we had teams working around back to extinguish the fire on the exterior."
He said there was extensive flame and smoke damage on the back side of the house and fire investigators from Nanaimo Fire Rescue's fire and loss prevention division had arrived on scene to start probing into what started the fire before the house was boarded up for the night. They returned Tuesday, Jan. 28, to continue their investigation.
A neighbour who heard the fire burning said she heard what sounded like a roaring noise "like an airplane" prior to an explosion. Krall said he hadn't been informed of that, but if that were the case he suggested it could have been a propane tank that burst due to the heat of the fire.
Krall said the homeowners and tenant from the basement suite would need to find other accommodations.
"They did have two cats. Didn't find the cats, but animals are smart and we didn't find them anywhere, so they're most likely out back somewhere," Krall said.
Jodi Le Masurier, deputy fire chief, said as of the following morning, the cause of the fire had not been determined.
Nanaimo Fire Rescue, BC Ambulance on scene fully involve house fire Ranchview Dr.
— Chris Bush (@ChrisBushphotog) January 28, 2025
Fire knocked down. No word on occupants or injuries. #Nanaimo #fire @NanaimoBulletin pic.twitter.com/OoLMWawZkx
