Boy injured in burning Kamloops group home
Nine kids escape fire that started in child's room
Lena Sin, The Province
Published: Sunday, October 29, 2006

A 12-year-old Westside boy was medevaced to Vancouver General Hospital early yesterday morning after he was rescued from his burning foster home.

Kamloops firefighters got a call about the blaze, which broke out at a group home in the 800-block Grant Road, just after 1 a.m. yesterday.

"When the crews arrived, there was smoke and fire and nine children and two adults out on the lawn," said battalion Chief Jim Marchuk.

Fire crews were told a 10th boy was still inside the burning two-storey home.

Quick action and a search of the large house led firefighters to the boy, who was semi-conscious and suffering from smoke inhalation, said Marchuk.

None of the other nine children nor the husband and wife who were looking after them were injured.

Emergency social services have placed the children in other homes.

Firefighters are still trying to determine the cause of the blaze, which began in a child's basement bedroom.

Earlier this month, a fire at a Duncan group home killed two cousins.

Marissa Justina Thomas, 9, and Troy Brandon Joe, 5, were among six children and three adults in the home on the Cowichan First Nation reserve when fire broke out on Oct. 4. They died of smoke inhalation.

lsin@png.canwest.com

© The Vancouver Province 2006