Residents escape house fire in Metchosin, B.C.
All occupants of a home in Metchosin, B.C., were able to escape a fire that ignited Thursday evening.
The Metchosin Fire Department says there were three residents inside the home as well as several guests at the time of the fire.
Everyone was able to escape the blaze uninjured, and one guest even tried to extinguish the flames on their own before firefighters arrived.
Metchosin Fire Chief Stephanie Dunlop says the fire department was called to the home in the 5000-block of La Bonne Road around 8:30 p.m.
When firefighters arrived, flames could be seen coming from the roof of the home.
The fire was reported around 8:30 p.m. on Nov. 24, 2022. (Metchosin Fire Chief Stephanie Dunlop)
Dunlop says the fire coincidentally occurred during a firefighting training night, so a larger than usual response was able to attend the blaze quickly.
About 30 firefighters and six engines responded to the call. Automatic calls for mutual aid also went out to nearby fire departments in Sooke, East Sooke and Otter Point.
Dunlop says there were no fire hydrants near the home, so water had to be tendered to the scene, which caused a bit of a challenge.
It took crews less than an hour to knock down the flames, and firefighters remained at the home overnight to monitor for hotspots, says Dunlop.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, though firefighters believe the fire started in the roof of the home.
Emergency Support Services in Langford are helping look after the residents of the home, according to Dunlop.
Metchosin's fire chief says she's thankful for the responses from all mutual aid partners, and is encouraging islanders to make sure their chimneys are inspected and that their fireplaces are WETT-certified as cold temperatures settle in.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.