A Sunday morning fire sent two people to hospital and caused $200,000 in estimated damages to a single-family home in the 600 block of Kent Street.
Lt. Inspector Sean Lillis of the Saanich Fire Department said one of the injured duo suffered burns of unknown severity. The other person was quickly released from hospital after receiving treatment for smoke inhalation, he said.
A family of six were in the building when crews arrived on scene just before 4 a.m. Sunday morning, said Lillis.
He said the cause of the fire remains under investigation, a point echoed by acting Sgt. Jereme Leslie of the Saanich Police Department.
“We’re certainly glad that everyone made it out of the home as the injuries could have been a lot more significant,” said Leslie.
Arriving crews witnessed flames and smoke coming from the rear-basement of the two-level residence, spreading up to the second floor and along the length of the building, according to a release from the Saanich fire department. Firefighters quickly knocked down the fire from the outside of the building, whose remainder suffered heavy smoke damage, it read.
Eighteen firefighters, three engines, one ladder, as well as one rescue vehicle attended the early morning fire, according to the release.
Saanich Police, B.C. Hydro, and B.C. Ambulance Service also attended the site of the fire, a quiet residential neighbourhood near the community gardens operated by the Capital City Allotment Association.
Leslie said the home will remain behind emergency tape until further notice, adding that traffic through the neighbourhood will remain unaffected.
A group of individuals standing outside the building Sunday morning refused to answer questions from the Saanich News and disappeared out of sight when television crews began to arrive.
The story will be updated as information become available.