Two people are displaced following a kitchen fire at a home in the Harbour City.
Nanaimo Fire Rescue crews responded to a residence located in the 2300-block of Leighton Road, near Westwood Lake, at around 1:15 p.m. Saturday after receiving reports of a structure fire.
Geoff Whiting, Nanaimo Fire Rescue’s deputy chief of operations, told CHEK News that when crews arrived on scene they entered the home and discovered a fire in the kitchen area and were able to knock it down quickly.
“There was significant damage to the kitchen,” he said.
There were two people home when the fire began, according to Whiting, who said both individuals escaped unharmed. He said the home was insured and the two occupants have been displaced as a result of the blaze, but are being taken care of.
“They are insured, they will be looked after,” said Whiting.
The home also had a basement suite but its occupants weren’t inside at the time of the fire. Whiting said although the fire caused significant damage to the kitchen and other areas of the home, the basement suite is undamaged and can continue to be occupied.
“The lower suite is still habitable,” he said.
The cause of the blaze is still under investigation, however, Whiting said it doesn’t appear to be suspicious.
“It is pretty clear it was a cooking fire,” he said.
Whiting said while there was significant damage to the kitchen area, the outcome could have been much worse had it not been for a quick response.
“It definitely could have been worse, crews got here quickly and knocked it down,” he said. “They did a great job.”
Nicholas Pescod
