1 year later: From ashes of Vancouver Island fire rises community support

A year ago, it was raining fire in Saanich.
In the early hours of Nov. 20, 2024, flames tore through a building under construction at the corner of Quadra Street and Palmer Road. Driven by strong winds, burning embers drifted down nearby Lodge Avenue, landing on the roofs and yards of unsuspecting residents.
“My pyjamas were on fire while I was trying to save our house,” recalls Melanie Dry, who, with help from her partner, used garden hoses to fight spot fires on their property.
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