One person was injured and 18 people were displaced after a fire broke out at an apartment building in Nanaimo early Saturday morning.
Nanaimo firefighters responded to the call around 12:50 a.m. in the 200-block of Sabiston Street.
One suite in the five-unit residential building was fully engulfed in flames, according to the city.
The blaze was contained to the single suite, which suffered severe fire damage.
"This was a very serious incident and it is fortunate that everyone escaped,” assistant fire chief Brad Wood said. “Structure fires that displace this many people are rare but all of the responding agencies worked well together to minimize the impact."
Everyone who lives in the building was able to escape the fire on their own.
One resident did suffer some burns, the city says.
Volunteers with the city’s Community Assistance Program are providing support and temporary accommodations for the residents.
Fire investigators will begin their investigation on Saturday.
