At least four fire departments responded to a fire incident at the Karma Coffee Roasting Company building in Coombs on Wednesday, Oct. 24.
With a call coming in at about 10:30 a.m., Coombs Hilliers, Errington, Parksville and Qualicum Beach fire departments were on-scene.
“The call came in as a chimney fire,” said Coombs-Hilliers fire chief Aaron Poirier. “Had smoke showing from inside the building on arrival, and we managed the fire in the roaster and the chimney and did some investigative work to ensure there was no fire extension to the roof.”
Firefighters entered the building with a hose, and scalled ladders to get on the roof and inspect the smoking chimney.
Paramedics also responded, but there were no injuries, said Poirier.
Vehicle traffic was slowed somewhat along the Alberni Highway, but was back to normal before noon.
Poirier said there is still some investigating to do to determine what went wrong to cause the incident.
He noted, however, that there were two roasters in the building and there was only an issue with one of them.
