Police released a statement Friday afternoon calling the fire suspicious.
Victoria police and fire crews blocked traffic in both directions on Douglas Street between Finlayson Street and Hillside Avenue following a fire at Ricky’s All Day Grill, a restaurant at the corner of Douglas and Burnside Road.
The fire was first reported around 3:15 am. Fire crews arrived on scene shortly after and were pumping water onto the structure until around 8 a.m., Friday.
No one was injured, and the cause of the fire is currently unknown. Fire authorities on site say the incident remains under investigation.
An employee at the neighbouring Tim Hortons told CHEK News that the entire roof was fully engulfed in fire when they arrived to open their store at 5 a.m.
The structure itself is very badly damaged. The exterior walls are visibly scorched and large segments of the aluminum roof facades lay across the parking lot.
Authorities are asking the public to avoid the area.
The road closure between Douglas, Finlayson Street and Hillside Avenue has severely impacted.
Anyone with information is asked to contact VicPD at (250) 995-7654 extension 1.
Keith Vass
