Smoke alarm warning helps occupants escape, but apartment fire displaces family
A smoke alarm helped two people escape an apartment fire that has displaced a family living in an apartment complex on Robron Road.
At 12:24 p.m. on Feb. 20, Campbell River fire crews responded to a fire in a two-storey apartment complex at 300 Robron Road.
Multiple 911 calls were received in the North Island 911 Fire Dispatch Centre in Campbell River, reporting heavy smoke coming from the complex, and when crews arrived, smoke from a second-storey window indicated the unit involved.
“Crews entered the building and quickly extinguished the fire to prevent it from spreading to adjoining units,” says deputy fire chief Thomas Doherty.
“Thankfully, the people living in this unit had a working smoke alarm. One of the occupants in the home was awakened by the sound of the smoke alarm. This early warning gave the occupant – and a small child – time to escape the fire.”
“This is yet another example of the importance of having a working smoke alarm in your home,” said Doherty. “Without a working smoke alarm, the results of this fire could have been tragic.”
The people who escaped the fire were treated by British Columbia Ambulance Service on scene and transported to Campbell River Hospital for observation.
A fire investigator has determined the fire was accidental, caused by a candle.
Damage estimate to the building has yet to be determined.
“Campbell River fire fighters remind the public to never attempt to drive over a fire hose at a fire scene,” said Doherty. “A sudden loss of water due to damage as a result of driving over a hose could leave fire fighters in a burning structure with no protection.”
