A Nanaimo business was destroyed by an early morning fire that investigators consider suspicious.
Nanaimo Fire Rescue managed to extinguish the fire at Previously Enjoyed-Quality Used on Townsite Road that broke out at around 4 a.m. on Sept. 15, according to a Nanaimo RCMP press release.
Although firefighters managed to prevent the blaze from spreading to nearby businesses, the building was heavily damaged and Nanaimo RCMP suspects that the fire was set intentionally.
“What do you get out of that?,” asked Bob March, 78, who owns the store that was set on fire.
“Why would someone even think of doing this. But obviously somebody did.”
Nanaimo RCMP said video surveillance obtained from a nearby business shows a grainy image of a man and woman walking towards the front door and then walking away, moments before the fire was reported.
Jeff Ross, a neighbour of the shop, said he was shocked.
“This is his life’s dream of having his own store,” said Ross, who owns Gold & Silver Guy.
“It’s part of his retirement so it’s shocking when it comes right down to it. I can’t believe that they would callously do this to an innocent person,” he said.
A 78 y/o #Nanaimo grandfather is feeling gutted after his retirement business, selling second hand goods, was torched Tuesday. He was uninsured. @NanaimoRCMP are now looking for 2 ppl seen in surveillance moments before fire broke out @NanaimoFire pic.twitter.com/NECmtuRE9v
— Skye Ryan (@SkyeRyanCHEK) September 16, 2020
Police are attempting to identify two individuals and are asking anyone with information to contact them at 250-754-2345 and quote file # 2020-33906.
CHEK News
