View Royal Fire Rescue is reminding residents to be extra cautious after a series of human-caused fires over the weekend.
View Royal and Colwood firefighters were called to the 100-block of Nursery Hill Drive at approximately 4 a.m. Sunday for a report of smoke in the area. While crews were on their way, the call was quickly upgraded to reports of flames on a second floor balcony.
The first members on scene were able to confirm a fire on a third floor balcony. Crews entered the building and quickly extinguished the blaze, containing the damage.
The initial investigation revealed a discarded cigarette started the fire.
“This is another reminder of the dangers of not ensuring smoking materials are fully extinguished,” said View Royal Fire Chief Paul Hurst. “The building’s exterior is cedar shakes, and had the neighbour not gone onto the deck and noticed the smoke, the results could have been much more significant.”
Hurst noted a neighbouring resident happened to be outside on his deck, noticed the smoke and called 911. At the same time, one of the occupants of the suite woke up to find the flames on the deck.
No smoke alarms or the building’s fire alarm were triggered as the fire was on the outside of the building. Hurst noted B.C. building code regulations, at the time the building was constructed, did not require sprinklers on outside balconies.
In total, two engines, one ladder truck, two chiefs, West Shore RCMP and B.C. Ambulance Service were on scene while Langford Fire Rescue provided standby coverage for View Royal.
No one was injured and the damage is estimated to be approximately $5,000.
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On Saturday, View Royal crews were called to a vehicle fire on Hallowell Road just before 4 p.m. Firefighters arrived on scene to find a Kawasaki loader fully involved. The vehicle was parked behind the gates at the Trio Ready-Mix yard so crews had to stretch 500 feet of hoses to reach the fire.
While they were able to quickly extinguish the blaze, the vehicle was completely destroyed. Hurst noted it was a significant loss and estimated it to be in the six-figure range.
The initial investigation found the commercial vehicle had been broken into before the fire was lit.
West Shore RCMP was also on scene and their investigation is still on-going.
