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.

害羞草研究所淭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,害羞草研究所� said BC RCMP Communications Services. 害羞草研究所淗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.害羞草研究所�

RCMP didn害羞草研究所檛 name the officer at the officer害羞草研究所檚 request.

害羞草研究所淭he officer害羞草研究所檚 actions and bravery is commendable, said Sgt. Lita Watson, detachment commander of Lake Cowichan RCMP. 害羞草研究所淗e put his own life in danger, without even a second thought, to help those people who would have been severely injured.

害羞草研究所淚 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,害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所淚 went to see and swear it looked like half the damn block was lit up,害羞草研究所� he recalled. 害羞草研究所淚t was one of those situations where 害羞草研究所榮ome kind of noise害羞草研究所� we later figured out, was bullets heating up and going off,害羞草研究所� Webber said. 害羞草研究所淎pparently the gunpowder went off literally seconds after that off duty cop got the two fellas out害羞草研究所�. Then害羞草研究所� boom! And that place was just gone.害羞草研究所�

Neighbour Tara Fraser also heard the big boom.

害羞草研究所淚 heard a loud bang over the running air conditioner and left my room around 4:30 a.m. to see what was going on,害羞草研究所� Fraser noted. 害羞草研究所淚 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害羞草研究所檚 property and the house next to me.害羞草研究所�

Webber said he didn害羞草研究所檛 know at the time that the father and son were able to escape, adding the explosions made him 害羞草研究所渁 tad nervous害羞草研究所� to run up to see if he could help.

害羞草研究所淚 honestly thought as it was only about 4:30 a.m. they would have been sleeping and for sure were in there,害羞草研究所� he admitted. 害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 no way anyone could have gone in at all,害羞草研究所� after the explosions, he said. 害羞草研究所淭here was no bloody way anyone lived through that and it was near killing me I couldn害羞草研究所檛 do anything but take a bloody video and hope they made it.害羞草研究所�

He said it was 害羞草研究所渁 long couple of hours害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 just glad no one got hurt. It could have been a hell of a lot worse,害羞草研究所� Webber said.

Police said the fire is not considered suspicious.

The home害羞草研究所檚 previous occupant, Mike Bell害羞草研究所檚 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:

害羞草研究所淭hey have lost everything as the entire structure was swallowed up in flames,害羞草研究所� Fraser said. 害羞草研究所淎nything will help this family. Thank you for any and all kindness at time when the world can be hard on all of us.害羞草研究所�

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害羞草研究所檚 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.