Saanich police say a stretch of San Juan Avenue has reopened to traffic Monday after fire crews responded to a structure fire in the area.
The district’s deputy fire chief, Trevor Stubbings, says a neighbour alerted firefighters to the blaze.
“So full alarm for the initial response. We had a crew come, and they found some smoke coming from the rear of the structure and hit it with a handline,” Stubbings told CHEK News.
“They were able to knock it down, and another crew was able to go inside the structure.”
According to Stubbings, the house’s third floor was damaged, “and there’s pretty significant damage to the roof as well.”
He says no one was inside the house, which is believed to be abandoned, neighbours told CHEK News. The deputy chief adds that crews put the fire out in about half an hour.
“Traffic has reopened in the 1900-block of San Juan Ave. Thanks to everyone for their patience,” said Saanich Police in a post on X (formerly Twitter) around 12:30 p.m.
The Saanich Fire Department was responding to the fire on San Juan, prompting police to close off the road between Sierra Park and Hillcrest Avenue Monday morning.
“We have shut down traffic in the 1900-block of San Juan Ave from Sierra Park to Hillcrest Ave. as Saanich Fire responds to a structure fire,” police said just before 10:30 a.m.
“Please avoid the area.”
A photo taken on Christmas Hill, a mountain peak in Saanich, was sent to CHEK News just after 10 a.m. and showed smoke wafting from the fire.
Around 10:45 a.m., a CHEK News reporter on San Juan Avenue said crews appeared to be clearing the scene, but the road was still blocked at the time.
Stubbings says the cause is currently unknown.
“We do have some investigators coming, so the cause will be determined once the investigators have a kick at it,” he added.
Traffic has reopened in the 1900-block of San Juan Ave. Thanks to everyone for their patience https://t.co/gMcvmm4lSg
— Saanich Police (@SaanichPolice) May 27, 2024
Ethan Morneau
