An elderly man died after a fire broke out at a central Nanaimo home.
The fire occurred at a home in the 2500-block of Quill Drive at around 8:30 a.m. Thursday.
Nanaimo Fire Rescue, Nanaimo RCMP and BCEHS all attended the scene.
“The neighbours heard the smoke detector beeping and came to check it out, and called 911 but by that time the fire had started,” said Stuart Kenning, assistant chief with Nanaimo Fire.
The BC Coroners Service is investigating.
Crews told CHEK News that the man, who was a wheelchair-user, was found on a hospital bed in the home’s living room, near where the fire had started.
“He was in a hospital bed in the main room,” Kenning said.
This comes just a day after B.C.’s Fire Commissioner Brian Godlonton announced fatal fires are up dramatically in this province.
“In 2021 there were 59 innocent fire related deaths,” Godlonton said on June 8. “An increase of 119 per cent from 27 deaths in 2019.”
So a new community dashboard is launching, in three pilot communities including Port Alberni, to arm fire departments with stats and better insights into where and why fires are occurring, to get ahead of the tragedies.
The report also revealed only 42 per cent of homes fires occurred in had working smoke alarms.
“If you don’t already have a working smoke alarm in your home, please purchase one and install it,” said Godlonton.
CHEK News
