Fire guts Oak Bay house; man escapes, dog saved
A homeowner who escaped the blaze that would destroy his south Oak Bay home ran back inside to save his beloved dog.
As flames shot out the front window and black smoke poured out from the home on the 900-block of Transit Road, firefighters stopped the man from risking his life, ducked inside the home’s main floor and whisked the unconscious animal to safety.
Oak Bay Fire Chief Dave Cockle said crews arrived on scene about 3 p.m. Feb. 2 — just in time to stop the man from heading back inside the 21⁄2 storey early 20th-century home.
Firefighters revived the dog using an oxygen mask specially designed for pets, Cockle said.
They carried the dog to a waiting ambulance where it was treated by paramedics.
“Crews worked to make sure the dog got oxygen and water,” Cockle said.
The owner declined to go to hospital and, instead, accompanied the dog to see a veterinarian.
The street was cordoned off by police tape for several hours as firefighters attacked the fire from inside and then from the exterior.
Flames could be seen shooting through the roof and smoke billowed across the residential neighbourhood. Firefighters were trying to poke holes in the roof to put out hot spots.
“It’s typical with an old house. There’s lots of areas that are concealed within the building so we’re going to take time to pull it apart and get it out,” Cockle said at the scene.
It’s unclear what caused the blaze but it appeared to have started at the front of the home, Cockle said.
The house is at 931 Transit Rd. is owned by Harry Johnson and was assessed at $1,213,000.
Neighbours said Johnson is a retired Oak Bay High teacher and lives in the home alone.
Cockle said it’s too early to determine the cause of the fire but the home is gutted.
Johnson was expected to stay with a neighbour overnight.
He is being assisted by emergency social services.