A Boxing Day fire at a Nanaimo motel sent several people to hospital and displaced residents, with investigators still working to determine the cause.
Emergency crews were called to the Value Lodge motel at 736 Nicol St. shortly before 3 a.m. on December 26th.
According to police, Nanaimo RCMP and Nanaimo Fire and Rescue responded to the structure fire at approximately 3 a.m.
BC Emergency Health Services said it received the initial call at 2:50 a.m. and dispatched six ambulances to the scene. Paramedics provided emergency treatment and transported seven people to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.
Fire rescue records show multiple units were deployed to the fire, including engines, ladder trucks, and a squad unit.
In an update later Friday afternoon, police confirmed that two residents remained in hospital with minor injuries.
No fatalities were reported.
Alice’s Restaurant, located next door to the motel, said the blaze was devastating for long-term tenants who had become part of the community.
The restaurant noted it narrowly avoided damage due to a firewall and credited the swift response of the Nanaimo Fire Department for preventing further spread and assisting with cleanup efforts.
RCMP said the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
