A fire ripped through a Penelakut Island housing complex Thursday night, leaving 21 members of the island’s First Nation without homes.
“We lost five homes, but the silver lining is that everyone got out and everyone is safe,” Penelakut chief Chakeenakwoutt Jack said Friday, adding: “I can’t say enough about how the community has come together to help and support everyone.
“The one positive thing that comes out of this is it shows the resilience of the community and the ability of people to come together in a time of crisis.”
The fire started at about 6:30 p.m. and destroyed a five-plex that was housing four families, including babies, young children, adults and elders, said Jack.
One of the units was not occupied at the time of the fire.
The chief said the cause of the fire is not immediately clear and investigators were at the scene Friday morning.
Aaron Jack, fire chief for the Penelakut Tribe, said the blaze may have started in a kitchen.
He said some of those who escaped were treated for smoke inhalation, but there were no injuries.
Fighting the blaze along with the Penelakut Fire Department was North Cowichan Fire, which was brought over by sa国际传媒 Ferries. Thetis Island Fire also sent crews to help fight the fire.
sa国际传媒 Ferries said three sailings — one each from Chemainus, Thetis Island and Penelakut Island — were cancelled to transport emergency responders on Thursday night.
The Lyackson First Nation also deployed a crew to Penelakut.
Chakeenakwoutt Jack praised the RCMP and other emergency response crews and community members.
“My hands are up to you all,” she said.
The nine-square-kilometre island off Chemainus is home to about 400 First Nation members, she said, adding those displaced by the fire are in hotels in Chemainus and surrounding areas.
The chief said the Penelakut First Nation is committed to finding permanent homes for the displaced, and eventually building new homes.
Donations of clothing and other items such as shoes and diapers are needed because the families “lost everything in the fire … they got out with the clothes on their backs,” said Jack.
An has been set up.
Donations can be delivered to the Penelakut First Nation’s Salish Sea Market in Chemainus.
