UPDATE: Island Highway blaze in View Royal claims family dog

Investigators are sifting through the wreckage of a house fire that claimed a pet in View Royal on New Year’s Eve.

Fire crews from View Royal, Langford and Colwood arrived on scene at the home on Island Highway near Helmcken Road to find a “well involved fire on the second floor” Tuesday around 1 p.m., said View Royal Fire Chief Paul Hurst.

Nobody was home at the time, but firefighters found a family dog that perished in the blaze.

“Crews encountered pretty heavy fire on the second floor when they got here. They were able to knock it down from outside and enter and did a quick search. Thankfully nobody was home at the time of the fire but unfortunately again, (there was a) deceased animal inside the building,” Hurst said from the scene. “We’ve spoken to the homeowner, about nine people live there and they’re on their way now.”

The fire was contained to one floor, but that floor is a complete loss, Hurst said.

Emergency Social Services was also called in to help the family with accommodations for the next few days.