Man dies in Tsawout blaze

Central Saanich firefighters work on a mobile-home fire that took the life of a 59-year-old man on the Tsawout First Nation reserve.

A 59-year-old man died in a fire Thursday night at the Tsawout First Nation.

Neighbour James Younger identified the man as Dave Scott.

The man, the lone resident of the mobile home at 7591 Jimmy Rd. at Popeye’s Campground, died in the fire, said Central Saanich Fire Chief Ron French. “It’s tragic,” French said. The blaze was reported about 11 p.m., police said.

Central Saanich police and Sidney-North Saanich RCMP were first on the scene.

The blaze threatened one trailer to the south but did not spread, French said.

Flames and smoke could be seen coming through the trailer’s windows, said Sidney-North Saanich RCMP Cpl. Erin Fraser.

About 24 volunteer firefighters from Central Saanich fought the blaze. When they were able to do so, they entered the trailer.

The man was declared deceased at the scene, Fraser said. The man’s dog is missing.

Younger became aware of the fire only when police arrived. He said he was inside his home “having a couple of beers with a pal” when he heard the commotion.

“All of a sudden, my place was surrounded by police officers — I thought they were coming to tell us to shut up — and I looked outside and there was smoke coming out,” Younger said.

He noticed flames near his friend’s new camper van and yelled at him to move it.

“He said, ‘I can’t drive right now,’ and threw me his keys and I gave them to the guy I was having a couple of beers with and, while the flames were licking up the side, he pulled it out,” Younger said.

Younger said Scott suffered from mental-health problems, including alcoholism, and once came out of his home in his underwear and beat Younger’s truck with a pitchfork, causing about $7,000 damage.

“He didn’t remember doing it [the next day],” Younger said.

The fire is not thought to be suspicious.

Police, the fire department and the B.C. Coroners Service are investigating, Fraser said.

It is not known whether the home had a smoke detector and, if so, whether it was working.

French said the fire department has a smoke-detector program.

“We have given them to both First Nations to ensure every resident on band lands have them,” he said. “I’m not sure if the smoke detector was working or if he even had one.”