An early morning Labour Day house fire gutted a home and significantly damaged multiple outbuildings at Sixth Avenue and Montrose Street.
"There's significant damage to the house, outbuildings and neighbour's outbuildings," said Port Alberni Fire Department Chief Tim Pley. The blaze was called in by a passerby at 2:44 a.m.
"The people inside woke up to the fire outside the window and smoke in the house," Pley said.
"The house is heavily damaged."
Two elderly occupants and their dog got out safely and stayed with a neighbour overnight, Pley added. The house was insured and the cause has not yet been determined.
Speaking at 3:45 a.m., Pley said that it looked like the blaze had started in the oubuildings and then spread to the house.
"It started outside the building by the looks of it, in the shed and spread to the main house," said Pley. The cause is currently undertermined for the fire which triggered an automatic mutual aid response from the Sproat Lake and Beaver Creek volunteer fire departments. A truck each from each voluteer department came to support the three PAFD trucks on scene.
The fire spread into the attic and fire crews were pushed out of the building, said Pley, only able to re-enter when the roof was off.
"It relieves the pressure, gives the fire and smoke a place to go," Pley said.
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