Five in hospital for smoke inhalation as firefighters contain blaze in Campbell River

A fire sent four children and one adult to hospital on Saturday morning, but firefighters were able to contain the flare-up to a kitchen, according to Thomas Doherty, chief of the Campbell River Fire Department.

At 9:35 a.m., firefighters from both of Campbell River’s fire halls responded to the blaze, which took place in a six-unit building on Matlaten Crescent, Doherty said in an email to the Mirror.

Matlaten Crescent is located near Tyee Spit.

Heavy smoke was coming from a lower unit of the two-storey building as crews arrived on-scene, and several occupants were still inside, Doherty said.

“Four children and one adult were still inside the unit when firefighters arrived,” Doherty said. “The occupants were able to escape from a second exit at the rear of the unit.”

All five of those occupants were transported to hospital for smoke inhalation, Doherty said. Several people living in an upstairs unit – three children and an adult – were also exposed to smoke, and BC Ambulance Service workers were on-hand to provide treatment, he said.

Morning fire in a 6-plex sends 4 children and 1 adult to hospital with smoke inhalation. Quick response time by CR firefighters contains fire to kitchen in one unit.

— Campbell River Fire (@RiverCityFire) December 29, 2018

An investigator from the fire department is looking into the exact cause of the blaze, but it apparently began in the kitchen, Doherty said. He added that rapid action by firefighters kept it from spreading.

“A quick response time by firefighters from the downtown fire station contained the fire to the kitchen area in the unit,” he said.

Doherty added some words of caution for residents.

“The fire department would like to remind residents to test their smoke alarms regularly to ensure they are working and to plan two ways out of their home in case there is a fire,” Doherty said.

@davidgordonkoch david.koch@campbellrivermirror.comLike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter