BC RCMP has revealed that no injuries have been reported following a structure fire that took place at a Duncan business park on Tuesday.
According to police, the fire was spotted by frontline officers — who were conducting foot patrols in the area — at approximately 6 p.m. on July 13.
Police say that the on-duty officers could see a large plume of smoke coming from the business park, located in the 2900-block of Boys Road.
After seeing the smoke, police say they attended the location and found a fully involved structure fire.
Police say they ensured the building was evacuated and measures were taken to evacuate residents at the nearby Duncan RV Park as well for safety.
Sam Biletnikoff says he was worried when he evacuated his home.
“I was actually. I asked the cop if I could wet my grass down before I left and he said yeah just be quick about it so I did.”
Duncan Fire Department arrived on the scene shortly after its chief says the fire didn’t spread to other businesses within the building largely because of a sprinkler system in that section. But an addition to the building is what largely burned.
“Because it was a tin building and that the whole inside was burning and you just couldn’t get at it and it was just a defensive fire [to fight]. It was just way too hot,” said Chief Mike McKinlay.
According to authorities, the fire was under control by about 8:00 pm and residents at the Duncan RV Park were permitted to return to their homes at that time.
No injuries have been reported to police as a result of the fire and all people associated with the business park have been accounted for.
Wednesday the owner of Pacific Energy, a company that produces stoves, fireplaces and inserts was assessing how this will impact his business.
The pandemic has created huge demand for our product. We’ve been oversold now since April of 2020. We sort of can’t keep up so this doesn’t help at all,” said Paul Erickson, the owner.
The fire damaged the company’s warehouse where it keeps pieces and inventory. The 12 employees that work there had already gone home for the day. Erickson says he’s just glad that no one was hurt and it wasn’t at their main factory.
“We’ll get through it for sure but it’s a hiccup we don’t need.”
Erickson says his operation was fully insured. Another business in the building also suffered damage.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation by RCMP and fire investigators.
Anyone with information on the incident or video of the fire (prior to police and fire attending), is being asked to contact the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP or call Cowichan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477
Here is what's left of a building in Duncan following a fire yesterday evening.
(Shoutout to my dad for getting this video!)
Details on @CHEK_News: https://t.co/KAhUGbEZYr pic.twitter.com/1XxGW5mgKs
— Nicholas M Pescod (@npescod) July 14, 2021
Graham Cox
