Emergency crews responded to a structure fire in the 3200-block of Linwood Avenue in Saanich just before 8 a.m. on Friday morning.
Heavy smoke filled the area, pouring out of the home as several fire trucks blocked the Saanich road with police directing traffic. By 10 a.m. fire crews were still battling the flames and several firefighters had climbed onto the roof with chainsaws in an effort to access the attic where the fire was contained but not yet extinguished.
“It’s a fairly stubborn fire and it’s in the roof space and we’re fighting the fire from the exterior at this time,” said Assistant Deputy Chief Robert Heppell of the Saanich Fire Department at the time.
BREAKING: Crews are responding to a large structure fire on Linwood Avenue in Saanich. Several fire trucks are on scene blocking the road. #yyjtraffic
— Devon Bidal (@devonscarlett) October 18, 2019
The single family home was “heavily involved with smoke and fire” as crews, including two engines, two ladder crews and a rescue truck, arrived, Heppell said.
Heather Stewart, who lives in a nearby apartment building, was one of the first to spot the flames. She was walking her dog when she saw smoke coming from the home, seconds later, a large explosion shot flames through the windows on the left side of the home, she said.
Crews appear to be attempting to get inside the house from the attic. A ladder has been boosted up onto the roof. pic.twitter.com/w1FhbkDi8G
— Devon Bidal (@devonscarlett) October 18, 2019
Stewart saw a woman run from the home, naked, who had been in the shower at the time of the explosion. She grabbed a blanket for the woman and then continued knocking on doors down the street.
“She appeared to be physically fine, she just looked like she was in shock,” Stewart said. “She told paramedics there was no one in the house and no animals.”
Fire officials said the resident was taken to hospital.
Neighbour Heather Stewart was the first to spot the flames. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/j5bHvcCWev
— Devon Bidal (@devonscarlett) October 18, 2019
BC Hydro shut off power in the area so that crews going inside the home would be safe.
Investigators continue to determine the cause of the fire.
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