A Family Of 5 Escaped Their BC Home After Wife Heard Gas 'Being Poured Through The Mail Slot'
She was awoken by a "gulp, gulp" sound.
Firetruck with lights on.
A family narrowly escaped their home in Victoria, B.C. after what police believe to be an arson attack.
Victoria police are now investigating the arson incident, which set the home of local Ukrainian Catholic church pastor Yuriy Vyshnevskyy on fire.
The incident left one family member with "potentially life-threatening injuries," according to police.
They were taken to the hospital and the injuries are now considered to be not life-threatening. Although one family member had to be rescued from a window ledge on the second floor of the home, all made it out safely.
Horrible news to learn of this suspicious fire last night, but I'm relieved everyone was able to escape. Father Vyshnevskyy has been working to help Ukrainians fleeing violence, and I know the local community will rally around his family now.https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/woman-clinging-to-window-ledge-4-others-escape-suspicious-victoria-house-fire-1.5868591\u00a0\u2026— John Horgan (@John Horgan) 1650480517
The incident occurred at 1 a.m. on April 20, on the 1100-block of Caledonia Avenue.
Police said that, when attending the scene of the fire, first responders "encountered the front entryway to the home fully engulfed in flames."
While four of the family members were able to evacuate the home, one needed to be rescued with a ladder.
According to an article on CTV News, the family's home belongs to the Ukrainian Catholic Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker — which is located right next to the home.
Vyshnevskyy told CTV that he woke up on the night of the fire to his wife "frantically calling out."
She was on the first floor of the home, after being woken up to the sound of gasoline "being poured through the mail slot next to their front door," it added.
Vyshnevskyy said that the gasoline then caught fire. Upstairs his three daughters, aged 5, 7 and 11, were sleeping.
Police said that investigators are now "seeking additional information, witnesses, and dashcam footage or video footage from the area of Cook Street and Caledonia Avenue between midnight and 1:30 a.m. this morning."
They asked that anyone with any information call the Report Desk at (250) 995-7654, extension 1.
To report anything anonymously, call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.