One person has been taken to hospital following a fire at an automotive repair shop on Vancouver Island.
A fire broke out at Big O Tires on Island Highway in View Royal at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, according to the View Royal Fire Department.
Rob Marshall, acting fire chief with the View Royal Fire Department, told CHEK one person has been taken to hospital with injuries. He said the fire is believed to have started while workers at the shop were dropping a fuel tank in a vehicle.
“The automotive crew there was working on dropping a fuel tank out of a vehicle and in the process of removal something sparked the vapours in the fuel tank causing one gentleman to get burnt,” he said, adding that he doesn’t believe the injuries are life-threatening.
Marshall said four engine units from his department as two units from the Colwood Fire Department and one unit from the Langford Fire Department attended the scene.
He said the blaze has been contained to the building, but crews are still working to extinguish it.
“We’re just trying to get this stubborn fire out,” he said. “Of course, being an automotive tire shop, it involves a lot of flammable liquids and a large amount of tire storage.”
The fire has closed the highway at Six Mile Road. Vehicles are being rerouted.
Nicholas Pescod
