No one was injured after flames engulfed a house in Mill Bay, where fire crews say passersby stopped to honk their horns to alert those inside.
The Mill Bay Fire Department was called to the scene at 5:14 a.m. Saturday as heavy fire and smoke were seen billowing from the third floor of a home in the area of Chapman Road and the Trans Canada Highway.
In a Facebook post, Mill Bay Fire says its crews made an “initial attack” with a 2.5-inch line to suppress the blaze before supporting operations with hand lines.
“Crews were able to mostly contain the fire to the third floor, however, there is heavy smoke, water damage, and collapse of the third floor to the lower floor,” read the Facebook post.
“All occupants and pets were able to safely exit the home before crews arrived on scene. The safe exit may be attributed to commercial vehicles that stopped on the highway and began blasting their air horns to alert residents.”
Mill Bay Fire says the Shawnigan Lake Fire Department, Emergency Support Services and paramedics from BC Emergency Health Services attended and assisted at the scene, which was cleared around 2 p.m.
Amid the aftermath, a CHEK News reporter captured video showing a section of the house’s roof caved in, windows smashed, and black soot on the exterior siding.
The cause of the fire was not disclosed.
CHEK News
