NANAIMO — Firefighters rescued a seven-year-old boy from a burning building Saturday.
At 3:17 a.m., Nanaimo Fire Rescue crews responded to a fire in the 300 block of Albert Street.
RCMP officers had spotted the blaze as they were driving by and tried to get in after being told there was a child inside, but were unable to as the building was well ablaze.
Two firefighters who entered managed to find the boy and resuscitation efforts took place at the scene.
The boy was stabilized and taken to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.
Crews fought the fire for about one hour. Its cause is still being investigated.
Two adults and six children live in a second-floor apartment in the building, which has a shop on the main floor.
At the time of the fire, one of the children was elsewhere. All the other residents were accounted for and were not injured. They are being helped by the City of Nanaimo Community Assistance Program and RCMP Victim Services.
“The combined efforts by Nanaimo Fire Rescue, RCMP and B.C. Ambulance Service allowed for a rapid response,” said Tim Doyle, assistant chief of operations for Nanaimo Fire Rescue.
“Fire crews entered a fully engulfed building to rescue the young child and should be commended for their actions.”
