One person was transported to hospital for burn injuries and smoke inhalation due to a fire at the Parksville Travelodge late yesterday evening (Sept. 28).
Parksville Fire Department responded around 11:30 p.m and found a fire in a suite on first floor on building’s west side, according to Marc Norris, Parksville fire chief. The first crew to respond extinguished the fire and made sure occupants of the affected suite were evacuated.
Subsequent crews then searched the remainder of the building and escorted out several people who did not leave when the fire alarms went off, Norris added.
“I have no doubt that this fire would have been much more severe if not for the working fire sprinkler system in the building. Fire sprinklers save lives,” he said.
Investigators are on scene today (Sept. 29) to determine the cause of the fire, according to Norris.
Suites on the hotel’s first floor are currently not available for use, but the fire department reset the sprinkler and fire systems to allow the second and third floor suites to be reoccupied, he added.
Parksville Fire Department responded with five units and 20 personnel. They were assisted by RCMP, BC Ambulance, BC Hydro and Emergency Support Services (ESS).
