Emergency responders were put to work on 1st Street and Mitchell in Courtenay where a residential blaze broke out this afternoon.
Goat News was on scene and spoke to a witness who lives just across the street. She says she heard what sounded like gun shots going off and people swearing as they fled the home.
She noticed huge flames coming out of the house and a truck peeling out of the lot and leaving the scene.
Major damage was done to the home and reports say several people were taken to hospital. The investigation into this continues.