Major Fire Destroys Home on Cowichan Lake Road; No Injuries Reported

UPDATE: A devastating fire has engulfed a home on Cowichan Lake Road this morning, leading to the total destruction of the property but, thankfully, no reported injuries. The Sahtlam Volunteer Fire Department responded to the emergency call at 8:17 a.m. for a structure fire at 5920 Cowichan Lake Road.

Upon arrival, Fire Chief Randy Busch reported that the two-storey wood-frame house was fully engulfed in flames, with fire reaching heights of at least 20 feet above the roofline. “I was the first one there, and it was worse after,” Busch stated, emphasizing the intensity of the blaze.

Fire crews from the Lake Cowichan Fire Department were quickly called in to assist. Firefighters initially faced challenges due to live power lines arcing nearby, necessitating a wait for BC Hydro to cut off electricity to the home. Despite these obstacles, firefighters launched an aggressive attack on the fire from two sides.

Fortunately, there were no humans inside the house at the time of the incident. However, some pets, reportedly cats, were believed to be in the home, and their fate remains unclear. “There was nobody in the building,” Busch confirmed, providing some assurance in the wake of the tragedy.

Firefighters worked diligently for several hours to extinguish the fire completely, even employing an excavator later in the day to access hotspots buried beneath the debris. By mid-afternoon, the blaze was officially declared extinguished. Emergency Support Services (ESS) has been activated to assist the displaced family during this traumatic time.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Chief Busch mentioned, “I’ve done an initial investigation, but I can’t see anything obvious. I’m going to take another closer look tomorrow morning with the owner.”

Despite the significant damage, Chief Busch praised the response efforts. “Everything went really well from our perspective, as far as fighting the fire. It went like clockwork,” he noted, highlighting the professionalism of the firefighters involved.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of residential fires and the importance of quick emergency responses. Authorities are urging residents to ensure their homes are equipped with working smoke detectors and to have an emergency plan in place.

Stay tuned for further updates as the investigation continues.