Fire crews were called to the Songhees Nation for a structure fire, but found a candle had ignited a television screen ablaze
View Royal Fire crews responded to an unusual fire about 8 AM this morning.
Assistant Chief Rob Marshall says they got a call about a possible structure fire on the Songhees First Nation -- and were surprised to find what was involved:
" We did have some smoke and product coming from a residence. But they ended up having a fire that they extinguished with their fire extinguisher. But what it was was a candle actually adjacent to a television, caught the front of the television screen on fire."
Marshall says while he's seen TVs get consumed in house fires -- it's the first time he's seen a TV screen ignite a blaze.
" It's a really good reminder, I mean candles and space heaters they need their space. A lot of the products that we are getting today in our households are, you know, made of plastics -- basically compressed hydro carbons that can catch fire easily. And I think what we saw in this case was actually ... there seemed to be a film on the front of the television screen that caught fire."
He says it should serve as a cautionary tale as many people like to use candles around Christmas.
Marshall says about 5 years ago the department teamed up with the Songhees to ensure all residents had fire extinguishers, and he says that's why there wasn't a lot of damage in this one.