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Fire displaces three Saanich families from two homes

Saanich firefighters found the fire had spread to a neighbouring home upon arriving
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Saanich Fire Department. (Black Press Media file photo)

Three families have been displaced following a two-home fire near Gordon Head Saturday evening.

Saanich firefighters received calls about a structure fire in the 1700-block of Carnegie Crescent around 7 p.m. on March 6. When crews arrived, they found a fire in a home’s attached “garage and shed area” had spread to the neighbouring home.

“Radiant heat had actually ended up impacting the gas line on the adjacent residential building, which started a second fire,” Saanich Fire’s Deputy Chief Frank Macdonald told Black Press Media Sunday.

It took 18 firefighters from all three stations about 20 minutes to extinguish both fires. Crews stayed at the scene doing additional work for about an hour and a half after the fires were extinguished. Macdonald said that work included an “extensive” amount of interior search for heat that had made its way into the attic space and ensuring both homes were adequately ventilated.

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One of the homes included two suites.

The Emergency Social Services team attended to the scene to help the impacted residents find temporary occupancy. Saanich police and paramedics were also at the scene.

“Everyone ultimately in both structures was displaced,” the deputy chief said, adding that some were able to go stay with extended family nearby.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation and the Saanich Police Department has joined the investigation as a “precautionary aspect,” Macdonald said.

Power to both buildings was disconnected and the gas line to one of the homes is out of service.


 

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