Police tape surrounds a bungalow on Crease Avenue following an early morning fire.
A fire in Saanich forced four people from a rental home early Monday morning.
The blaze broke out around 3:30 a.m. in the 100 block of Crease Avenue. Eighteen firefighters and six vehicles responded to the fire.
Saanich Deputy Fire Chief Dan Wood said some of the firefighters were able to leave about an hour later.
“We remained until about 6:30 this morning with four firefighters taking care of picking up hoses and cleaning up,” Wood said.
Wood said neighbours called 911 when they saw the fire.
“Four occupants got out when they smelled smoke,” Wood said.
No one was injured in the fire and Wood said the four occupants were renters. The bungalow, which had a suite upstairs and a suite downstairs, is now uninhabitable.
“Extensive smoke, water and fire damage,” Wood said. “I don’t know if I could put a value on the contents but probably several hundred thousand dollars in damage.”
The Saanich Fire Department and Saanich police are investigating the cause of the fire.
“Given the time of the day and the info we got upon arrival, it seemed likely accidental but not confirmed yet,” Wood said.
While crews were fighting the fire, Saanich police closed down the Galloping Goose Regional Trail between Harriet Road and Tillicum Road. Some roads in the area were also closed but have since reopened.
Alexa Huffman
