A house fire in Comox has left an elderly couple deceased due to a possible explosion.
At around 4:15 p.m. on Friday, January 6th, Comox Fire rescue responded to a fire in a single family dwelling that was fully ablaze located in the 1700-block of Ryan Road East. Two bodies were found within the home.
“Family members were on the scene telling us there were likely two victims inside which the fire department quickly discovered there was and unfortunately both of them were deceased,” Fire Chief Gord Schreiner told Victoria Buzz.
“The bodies were found in the porched area called the sun room in the house, apparently the elderly couple spent a lot of time in.”
Five fire engines and 28 firefighters responded to the fire within the first 15 minutes with more on the way behind them.
“This is what we call here, in a small town, an ‘all hands fire,’” Schreiner told Victoria Buzz.
Shortly after the arrival of Comox Fire Rescue firefighters, the blaze was extinguished.
.@comoxvalleyrcmp and @comoxfire is asking people to stay away from the scene of a house fire. Currently in progress in #Comox on Ryan Road between Anderton Rd and Military Row. @CHEK_News pic.twitter.com/soomuzL8Rv
— Dean Stoltz (@deanstoltzchek) January 7, 2023
Comox RCMP, Comox Fire Rescue and the Office of the Fire Commission of Victoria are investigating the cause of the fire but currently the cause is thought to be a potential explosion.
“We believe the cause to be accidental but we aren’t sure,” said Schreiner.
Comox Fire Rescue said that they do not believe the house had any natural gas hookup and Schreiner told Victoria Buzz that the smoke alarms were in working order.
No surrounding homes were damaged in the blaze.
