Investigators are trying to determine the cause of a fire in an industrial park south of Duncan on Tuesday night.
The fire was discovered by officers from the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP detachment around 6 p.m. During a foot patrol in the Boys Road area, the officers noticed a large plume of black smoke, then discovered a fully involved structure fire in a warehouse-type building that houses multiple businesses.
The officers ensured the building was evacuated, and also evacuted residents of the nearby Duncan RV Park.
The Duncan Volunteer Fire Department attended, with aid from North Cowichan’s South End hall and Cowichan Bay, while Maple Bay was asked to cover for South End during the incident.
The fire was under control by 8 p.m., and residents of the RV park were allowed to return home. Firefighters remained on the scene for several more hours to make sure the hot spots were out. The entire back of the building, including a loading dock, was destroyed. No injuries were reported, and everyone associated with the businesses in the building has been accounted for.
Police are looking for any information about the fire, and particularly for video of the fire before police and fire arrived on the scene. Anyone with details should contact the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP at 250-748-5522 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Smoke and flames rise from a warehouse in the industrial park south of Duncan on Tuesday, July 13. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)
