Two men and a woman have lost everything after an explosive fire burned down their home early Sunday morning, July 9, in Lake Cowichan, but it could have been much worse if not for an off duty Mountie who risked his own life to save them.

Mike Bell and his son Travis, and an unnamed woman were sleeping when they were woken abruptly by a member of the Lake Cowichan RCMP detachment, telling them their home was on fire and to get out immediately.

It was 4:30 a.m. and the roof of their house on Cowichan Avenue was already ablaze.

香蕉视频直播淭he police officer happened to be driving by at about the same time, on his way to work, and was able to gain access to the home,香蕉视频直播� said BC RCMP Communications Services. 香蕉视频直播淗e located two men inside, woke them up and assisted them outside. One of the men advised there was a third occupant, a woman, who was still inside the home and so the officer returned inside for her. Fortunately, the officer was able to get everyone out to safety, as the home became fully engulfed in flames shortly after the third occupant was removed.香蕉视频直播�

RCMP didn香蕉视频直播檛 name the officer at the officer香蕉视频直播檚 request.

香蕉视频直播淭he officer香蕉视频直播檚 actions and bravery is commendable, said Sgt. Lita Watson, detachment commander of Lake Cowichan RCMP. 香蕉视频直播淗e put his own life in danger, without even a second thought, to help those people who would have been severely injured.

香蕉视频直播淚 want to also recognize and acknowledge the efforts made by the neighbour who tried their best to rouse the occupants of that home and called for emergency assistance. These neighbourly acts really speak to the close-knit and supportive community we live in here in Lake Cowichan,香蕉视频直播� Watson added.

Neighbour Rob Webber said he and his wife heard a large bang so loud it nearly knocked them out of bed. He had his wife call 911 while he went out on his porch to have a look, only to find the home down the road was blowing up.

香蕉视频直播淚 went to see and swear it looked like half the damn block was lit up,香蕉视频直播� he recalled. 香蕉视频直播淚t was one of those situations where 香蕉视频直播榮ome kind of noise香蕉视频直播� we later figured out, was bullets heating up and going off,香蕉视频直播� Webber said. 香蕉视频直播淎pparently the gunpowder went off literally seconds after that off duty cop got the two fellas out香蕉视频直播�. Then香蕉视频直播� boom! And that place was just gone.香蕉视频直播�

Neighbour Tara Fraser also heard the big boom.

香蕉视频直播淚 heard a loud bang over the running air conditioner and left my room around 4:30 a.m. to see what was going on,香蕉视频直播� Fraser noted. 香蕉视频直播淚 was met with a curious orange glow from my upstairs bathroom window. I walked towards it almost daydream-like and pulled the curtains to see huge flames shooting up above the tree line between Mike香蕉视频直播檚 property and the house next to me.香蕉视频直播�

Webber said he didn香蕉视频直播檛 know at the time that the father and son were able to escape, adding the explosions made him 香蕉视频直播渁 tad nervous香蕉视频直播� to run up to see if he could help.

香蕉视频直播淚 honestly thought as it was only about 4:30 a.m. they would have been sleeping and for sure were in there,香蕉视频直播� he admitted. 香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 no way anyone could have gone in at all,香蕉视频直播� after the explosions, he said. 香蕉视频直播淭here was no bloody way anyone lived through that and it was near killing me I couldn香蕉视频直播檛 do anything but take a bloody video and hope they made it.香蕉视频直播�

He said it was 香蕉视频直播渁 long couple of hours香蕉视频直播� before he learned the men were safe.

RCMP confirmed all three adults who had been inside the burning home were checked over by paramedics, and no serious injuries were sustained.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 just glad no one got hurt. It could have been a hell of a lot worse,香蕉视频直播� Webber said.

Police said the fire is not considered suspicious.

The home香蕉视频直播檚 previous occupant, Mike Bell香蕉视频直播檚 late father, had stored gunpowder in the basement and Bell had yet to clean it all out.

Webber is considering a comedy show fundraiser to help out his neighbours, who had no insurance.

Another neighbour, Jenny Bradford has been instrumental in the relief effort and has been busy collecting clothing for the men.

Meanwhile, Fraser has set up a fundraiser and donations can be made at:

香蕉视频直播淭hey have lost everything as the entire structure was swallowed up in flames,香蕉视频直播� Fraser said. 香蕉视频直播淎nything will help this family. Thank you for any and all kindness at time when the world can be hard on all of us.香蕉视频直播�

She said a fund for cash donations and a donation bin for non perishable goods have also been set up at Country Grocer, as has an account at the local credit union. She香蕉视频直播檚 also asking Lakers to drop their empties off at 28 Lake Cowichan Ave. E for a bottle drive between now and when she drops them off on July 18.

Local pizza delivery driver Constance Gagnon also collected tips and donations for the family during a recent shift.