A commercial building in Parksville was completely destroyed after a structure fire Tuesday evening.
One person suffered some minor burns and smoke inhalation during their initial discovery of the fire, according to the Errington Fire Department’s deputy fire chief George Klemm.
Klemm says his department received multiple calls to the business near the 1000-block of Smithers Road, shortly before 7 p.m.
They were initially joined by crews from the Parksville and Coombs Fire Department.
“I requested an additional tanker from Qualicum as well, and we had a lot of help from all our mutual aid partners, BC Ambulance, Hydro, Fortis, the Main Road guys. We wrapped up around 5 a.m.,” Klemm said during an interview.
At this time, it isn’t clear what started the fire but Klemm confirmed an investigation is underway.
A bystander captured footage of the incident which shows emergency responders working to get the situation under control.
“I was driving south on the Island Highway just after seven, when I saw the heavy smoke,” said Ian Hamilton, a passerby who sent in the footage below.
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