The Campbell River Walmart was a crime scene Friday as yellow police tape and RCMP cruisers blocked the entrances. A fire was found burning in the paper goods aisle Thursday night.
“I walked past the toilet paper aisle and it kind of caught my eye and I was like wait a minute that’s not right and I could see flames in behind the toilet paper,” said Doug Gallant who was shopping in Walmart at the time.
Video shot by another shopper Amanda Rose shows flames creeping up behind a stack of toilet paper and catching the shelving on fire.
Gallant alerted store staff then returned to the fire.
“So I come back and looked at the aisle and I could smell a very distinctive smell of some kind of gas or accelerant like some kind of kerosene or something,” he said.
Campbell River Fire Deparmtent crews arrived moments later.
“The staff was right on it, they immediately evacuated the store,” said Campbell River Deputy Fire Chief Kelly Bellefleur. “They did a great job on that front, some even had the wherewithal to grab an extinguisher and actually discharged a couple of extinguishers on the fire which kept it from growing which was great.”
Firefighters still had to put out the flames but by then thick smoke had filled the entire store.
“Even though the fire itself was kept small the amount of smoke damage is extensive,” said Bellefleur. “The smoke quickly filled the building and started to come down from the roof level. Standing outside and looking in you couldn’t see the back of the store.”
The Campbell River RCMP said Friday evening they are investigating the fire, which was reported at around 10 p.m.
Police said fire investigators, Forensics Identification Units, and the Major Crimes Unit have been able to determine that the fire was “intentionally set as a diversion tactic to enable a very significant theft from the store.”
At this point in time, police are not revealing what was taken or it’s value.
Police are looking for one male suspect, described as wearing a grey jacket, black pants (possibly cargos), two-tone possibly grey/black ball cap, and black sneakers with white soles.
Police said they are still processing evidence and hope to release suspect photos in the coming days.
“This crime was extremely serious and costly in nature,” Const. Maury Tyre of the Campbell River RCMP said in a statement.
The damage to the building and it’s goods is yet to be fully assessed, but it’s safe to say that there are extensive monetary damages. Crimes like these have far-reaching effects that most criminals don’t even think of. The financial damage it can do to employees while a location is closed isn’t a trivial matter and the sheer costs of cleanup and replacement of goods drive insurance costs higher which drive costs to consumers higher in the long run. Fortunately, nobody was injured as a result of the fire, but this suspect put lives of customers, staff, and fire crews at risk. Really the entire community should wish to see this person brought to justice.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Campbell River RCMP at 250-286-6221.
The public is advised that the Campbell River RCMP Facebook page is not a platform for reports or to receive tips information. Police say those who have information are asked to share it with police not on social media.
The Campbell River RCMP has been in touch with Walmart Canada’s corporate affairs and has been advised that pharmacy patients can have their orders processed at the nearest Walmart location in Courtenay. Walmart will provide the public further information as to when the Campbell River location will reopen.
Walmart Canada didn’t respond to messages from CHEK on Friday but it’s believed that smoke damage will have the store closed for days or even longer.
Dean Stoltz
