Victoria firefighters battled a dramatic house fire on Friday that saw flames licking the side of a house near the Saanich border.
A spokesperson with the Victoria Firefighters Association Local 730, says firefighters first received a call of a possible structure fire on Blackwood Street around 2:46 p.m.
Soon after, emergency crews received “numerous” 911 calls from neighbours which confirmed that a shed was on fire beside a home in the 3100-block of Somerset Street.
The union says an “entire platoon response” was activated, but while en route firefighters received a call for another medical emergency, so one fire engine was rerouted to that scene.
By the time firefighters arrived, flames had spread from the shed to the primary residence and a neighbourhing home.
Story continues below
(Victoria Firefighters Association Local 730)
“With flames hot enough to break the windows of the house and high enough to spread to the roof structure, fire crews had their work cut out for them,” said the firefighters union.
Crews surrounded the home and began dousing the flames from both Somerset Street and Blackwood Street.
“With assistance from the property owner, a padlock was cut to gain access to allow a fire attack from the rear of the structure,” said the union.
Story continues below
(Victoria Firefighters Association Local 730)
It took about two hours for the fire to be put out.
Victoria Fire investigators are now probing the scene, but at this point the fire does not appear suspicious, according to the firefighters union.
“If not for the quick response and effective coordinated attack, this fire would have no doubt resulted in much more property damage and the displacement of multiple residents,” said the union.
BC Emergency Health Services says one ambulance was dispatched to the scene, but no one needed to be taken to hospital.
READ ALSO:
Adam Chan
