Crews worked to clean up after a sizeable fire caused significant external damage to the Departure Bay Activity Centre on Thursday morning. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

FIRE FIGHT

VIDEO: Investigators label early morning Departure Bay fire as suspicious

Mar 17, 2022 | 8:33 AM

NANAIMO — Police and Fire Rescue have deemed an early morning fire at a popular community centre as suspicious.

Nanaimo Fire Rescue crews were called to the Departure Bay Activity Centre on Wingrove St. around 5:35 a.m. on Thursday, March 17 after a fire broke out on the outside of the buildings.

Reserve Cst. Gary O’Brien told NanaimoNewsNOW the building was fully engulfed when crews arrived.

“Extensive damage to the interior of the building which includes the gymnasium, the parking bay which is adjacent to it and the Salvation Army food truck sustained some smoke damage only.”

He added police don’t have a lot to go on and were unable to locate any natural causes which may have sparked the fire.

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“There is an alcove at the front of the building which provides a natural shelter, so we certainly thinking someone may have used it for shelter for the evening but we don’t know at this point.”

The fire itself was fed by a natural gas line, which ruptured and fueled the flames.

“Natural gas fires can be a little bit tricky especially when there’s a natural gas meter involved,” Stuart Kenning, assistant fire chief with Nanaimo Fire Rescue, said. “We basically just cool the area, we couldn’t get access to shut it off so we just…contain the flames and protect the rest of the structure”

Multiple engines responded to the call, with crews having the blaze largely extinguished just before 7:30 a.m.

Crews from Fortis BC were also on scene and were able to shut gas off to the property from another location, allowing Fire Rescue crews to wrap up their efforts.

No injuries were reported from the incident.

An investigation into the cause of the fire continues with Fortis BC, Nanaimo RCMP and fire investigators spending time on scene on Thursday.

Police are asking anyone with nearby security or dash cam footage prior to the incident to contact them.

A fire spread to the interior of the Departure Bay Activity Centre in Nanaimo early Thursday morning, causing extensive damage. (Nanaimo RCMP)

Andrea Thomas lives opposite the centre on Wingrove St. She was awoken by the sound of the fire spreading.

“I’ve got blackout curtains in my room and it sounded like heavy rain,” Thomas said. “I have a friend staying with me right now and she screamed my name and said ‘there’s a fire!’ I jumped out of bed and looked out the window and the building was engulfed in flames.”

Thomas said the activity centre is used for a variety of events and occasions through the year, including as a polling station during elections.

The City of Nanaimo confirmed any recreational programming scheduled for the venue will be accommodated at other facilities where possible.

Crews remained on scene Thursday morning conducting investigations and clean up of a fire at the Departure Bay Activity Centre on Wingrove St. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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