Victoria police say they are investigating a confirmed arson as a possible hate crime after the family of a Ukrainian priest narrowly escaped from their burning home on Wednesday morning in the city’s Fernwood neighborhood.
Three girls were to be let down by their mother through a window on the second floor of their father’s house and two passers-by were waiting below, according to Dan Atkinson, Victoria’s acting fire chief. Then the mother had to be rescued by firefighters with the help of a ladder.
“Upon arrival, we encountered very severe fire conditions coming from the front of the building, and we were also met by a lone occupant who had landed right in front of the second-floor window who needed to be rescued by a ladder,” Atkinson said.
“Our decision is that the fire was deliberately started by unknown individuals. So now the police will start the ongoing investigation into the arson.”
The building was home to Father Yuri Vishnevsky and his family. Vishnevsky is a parish priest at the neighboring Ukrainian Catholic Church of St. Nicholas.
Vishnevsky says he, his family and their pets are now safe, but his eldest daughter had to be treated at a hospital for escape injuries.
“The first two younger kids did it safely in my arms and in my neighbor’s arms,” he told Robin Burns, CBC’s All Points West host. “The moment our eldest daughter jumped, she landed on a piece of glass that was broken on the ground.”
“It’s not life-threatening. She’s safe. She’s with us … we’re happy the whole family is under one roof.”
9:46 Ukrainian priest, family escaped by fire from the house after arson
Father Yuri Vishnevsky, a parish priest at Ukraine’s St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Victoria, spoke with Robin Burns about how his family escaped a fire at their home that police said was intentionally set on fire. 9:46
The petrol is poured through the post office, the priest said
According to Vishnevsky, his wife woke up around 1 am PT after hearing noises. She guessed it was one of her children walking around the house, then realized the sounds were coming from the front porch.
“The next thing he heard was the sound of … emptying the bottle and the smell of gasoline,” he said. “Someone was pouring [it] inside the house through the mail slot. “
“She shouted, called me and said, ‘Yuri, get up, someone’s pouring this into the house …’ There had been no fire so far.”
Police tape is visible around the house on 1100 block on Caledonia Avenue. (Mike MacArthur / CBC)
But almost as soon as he was warned about the petrol, Vishnevsky said, someone started a fire that spread “very quickly.”
When he went downstairs, the front room was already on fire. As the smoke filled the house, he says he had to abandon his plans to put out the fire on his own and then fled through the back door.
Outside, he saw his wife and children through the upstairs window, panting from the air.
His neighbor then helped encourage the stranded children to jump, their only safe way out of the house.
“They trusted us and were brave,” Vishnevsky said.
The priest says he was impressed by the support provided by the community, as people offered the family food, clothes and even places to stay.
“It’s just amazing. And we are so grateful. We are so blessed by this community in which we live, “he said.
“From the neighbors … to the people all over the city and beyond, you know. We’re getting messages from different provinces.”
“The consequences could have been much worse.”
Victoria police said they were investigating whether the crime was motivated by hatred.
“There is nothing to suggest other than the fact that it is arson,” Const said. Kam McIntyre, Victoria Police spokesman. “The family is very lucky to get out of there relatively safely … the consequences could have been much worse.
All five members of the family were treated for smoke inhalation, according to McIntyre.
The burned front door of the house is pictured here. Police are asking people with information about the arson to come out. (Mike MacArthur / CBC)
Atkinson said parents deserve credit for their quick thinking.
“This is truly an incredible story and a testament to both parents of the children to ensure their safety by closing the doors behind them to prevent the rapid spread of fire in the areas where they were … It could certainly be much worse . “
McIntyre said police hoped people would come up with information and advice on the incident.
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