One woman is safe following a house fire in Youbou yesterday although the home itself has been destroyed.
On Dec. 6 at approximately 3:30 p.m., Youbou Volunteer Fire and Rescue was called to a lakefront residence on Lake Boulevard in Youbou. The structure was engulfed in flames.
The single occupant escaped the blaze without injury.
Lake Cowichan RCMP was also called to the scene.
"The house itself was completely on fire from the water side, so fire [services] was there for quite some time to put it out," said RCMP Cpl. Travis Strong.
Strong said that in speaking with the homeowner and neighbours, police do not believe the fire was suspicious in nature.
"Right now we still have to do a little bit of follow-up but we understand it originated with just a wood-burning fire place," he said. "The good thing is, it's a close-knit neighbourhood so the neighbours are helping to take care of her… It's just a very unfortunate thing to have happen."
Strong said emergency social services is assisting the victim at this time.