Newcomers to Central Saanich have an immediate affinity for the Central Saanich fire department after their home filled with smoke last week. No one was at the residence on Hattie Place when a paper carrier noticed smoke coming from the eaves shortly after 6 a.m. on May 12.
The residents had just purchased the home and were in the middle of moving to the community from Red Deer, Alberta. Movers had placed boxes and furniture in the home. “From what we can tell too close to the gas fireplace,” said Central Saanich Fire Chief Ron French.
When the temperature dropped overnight, the fireplace came on creating the fire.
“When we got there the house was just getting ready to flash over,” French said. They were able to catch the fire before that point, he added. “The save on the house was probably $400,000.”
That fire took about two hours to extinguish and clean up.
It was to be the start of a busy day in Central Saanich. The fire department also responded to two significant calls midday where a pedestrian was struck in Brentwood, and a car smashed through a window on Keating X Road.
Later that night, they battled a second blaze in the Tsawout community.
There were six people in the home near Central Saanich Road when the smoke detector went off. Central Saanich Fire was called shortly after 9 p.m. for the fire that started in a hot water tank room.
Combustibles near the tank are the culprits in that fire too, French said.
“They had working smoke detectors which is good. It alerted them and they got out safely,” he said.
The family is uninsured but are receiving some support.
“They’re going to have a home to go back to, it’s just going to take some time to clean it up,” French said.