The small community of East Sooke is mourning the loss of a couple in their 80s who died in a house fire Saturday morning.
Leonard and Brenda Grundy died as they had lived — together, said their son, Steve Grundy.
“It’s very sad,” Grundy said.
“It’s a great circle of life. They had a good life. In fact, they had a great life. They went together. I can’t imagine what it would have been like if one of them had survived. They’ve been together 65 years.”
Leonard, 85, was a retired draftsman. Brenda, 83, had worked for a real estate company, then for local government in Wales. Both were born in England.
They moved to East Sooke 20 years ago to be close to their three grandchildren, said Grundy, who is vice-president academic at Royal Roads University.
“They were quiet retired people. They were getting on a bit, not quite as mobile as they used to be, but still in good health, still driving,” Grundy said.
“I was here last night and they were in great spirits. They were just fine.”
At 4 a.m., fire was seen coming through the roof at 1355 Coppermine Rd. by a woman driving by.
“She got out of her car and banged on the doors, but got no response. She called 911,” said Roger Beck, chief of East Sooke’s volunteer fire department.
Beck, who lives behind the Grundy home, arrived a few minutes later. Fire was visible on both floors and coming through the roof, he said.
“I thought, ‘God, I hope they got out.’ Then there was a knot in my stomach when I learned there were people trapped inside. It’s the worst possible outcome.”
About 30 volunteer firefighters from East Sooke, Metchosin and Sooke battled the blaze, entering the house to search for survivors. But there was no one else inside.
“It looks as if they made some effort to get out and, tragically, it failed. The fire was in the living room, and the hallway from the bedroom goes to the living room, so it effectively blocked off their escape path,” said Beck.
“They were really outstanding, great people. It hurts more when they are really likable people in the community. They were typical salt-of-the-earth people. They were just good people.”
The fire is not suspicious, the chief said. It started in the entertainment centre, which held a DVD player, a television set and a personal video recorder, or PVR.
“We’re confident it’s an electrical fault,” Beck said.
Grundy, a former volunteer firefighter, was able to retrieve his father’s medals, which he earned as a wireless operator in Egypt, from the fire-damaged house.
“It’s terribly sad,” said next- door neighbour Lynda Chambers. “I will miss them so much.”
Beck reminded people to check the batteries in their smoke alarm today.
“Whenever you change your clocks, check the batteries in your smoke alarm,” he said. “Just press that test button. Make sure they are working properly.”
