Eighteen people homeless after fire hits Nanaimo apartment building

A fire inside a five-suite residential building in Nanaimo Saturday morning has displaced 18 people.

Fire crews responded to the call just before 1 a.m. in the 200 block of Sabiston Street in downtown Nanaimo, where they found a single suite engulfed in flames. The fire stayed contained to the one suite which was heavily damaged. The four other suites in the building suffered heavy smoke damage and lost power.

WATCH:  Firefighters were called to a five-unit residential building just before 1 a.m. Saturday in Nanaimo.

0:39 Nanaimo fire displaces 18 people

All 18 residents were able to escape the building on their own, although one of those people suffered burns and is receiving treatment. The displaced residents have been relocated to a hotel for the time being.

“They’ve been released from the hospital and they’re at their hotel resting,” said fire prevention officer Yumesh Lal.

Fire investigators will continue to gather information with help from the RCMP. There is no speculation on the cause of the fire at this time.