Eleven people have been taken to hospital after a house fire early this morning at the Pauquachin First Nation Reserve in North Saanich.

There were 16 people sleeping in the house 8709 West Saanich Rd. when fire broke out around 2:48 a.m., said Sidney/North Saanich RCMP Cpl. Erin Fraser.

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North Saanich Fire rushed to the scene with four pumper trucks and about 20 firefighters and when they arrived all the occupants of the house were out, said North Saanich Fire deputy chief Pat Phillips.

One man suffered serious but non-life-threatening burns and the other 10 people were treated for smoke inhalation, Phillips said. Five others were treated at the scene.

The fire was contained mostly to the second floor of the house and firefighters were finished by 5:30 a.m.

Phillips said the people in the house ranged in age from elderly to young children.

An RCMP investigator will be going to the hospital to talk to the man this morning, Fraser said and all adult occupants will also be talking to investigators to determine the cause of the fire. This an initial thought it started in the kitchen, Fraser said.

Fraser said that many people living in one house “is actually quite rare.”

A staff member at the reserve could not comment on the fire.

Cause of the fire is unknown and still under investigation. No foul play is suspected.

Emergency Social Services will be helping the family with other accommodation.



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