By Dominic Abassi

“Suspicious” Fire Displaces 12 at old Globe Hotel

Jul 21, 2016 | 12:16 PM

Nanaimo Fire Rescue is investigating a fire they call suspicious at a downtown heritage building built in 1887.

Around 10 Wednesday night, crews were called to a second floor apartment at the old Globe Hotel on Front Street.

The flames were contained to one unit, causing moderate damage. There is smoke damage throughout the second floor and water damage to the unit and the ground floor, with water coming through the ceiling, according to Nanaimo Fire Rescue Chief Fire Inspector Ennis Mond.

He says it’s unclear what actually started the fire, but says a possible criminal element is being handled by police.

“We’ve turned that part over to the RCMP and we’ll continue investigating with them. They’ll look after the suspicious side of it and we’ll look after the fire side of it,” said Mond.

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He says if there’s anything that looks suspicious, they always call police in, in case there was some inappropriate activity that went on.

“In this case, I can’t say if there was or there wasn’t, but we’re covering all our bases.”

There is smoke and water damage throughout the three storey building. Mond says the sprinkler system had controlled the fire, so crews didn’t have much left to extinguish when they got there.

About twelve people living there are displaced and there were no injuries. Witnesses say there was a tenant in the unit at the time, but Mond says he hasn’t been able to speak to him yet.