The wooden door frame of the Bastion in downtown Nanaimo caught fire Monday afternoon. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

wooden structure

Bystander with extinguisher helps save Bastion from fire

Jul 13, 2020 | 2:07 PM

NANAIMO — A man who happened to by in the area of the Bastion along Nanaimo’s waterfront helped save the building from flames.

The fire at the Bastion, the last remaining wooden outpost from the Hudson’s Bay Company, started Monday, July 13 around 12:30 p.m.

Umesh Lal, a Nanaimo Fire Rescue fire prevention officer, told NanaimoNewsNOW an innocent bystander stepped up and assisted before crews arrived.

“They went to their truck, got their extinguisher and helped put out of the fire by the time crews got here. By having that fire extinguisher handy, it really helped save the building.”

Lal said the incident was sparked by an outdoor cooking fire on the back stairs of the Bastion.

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“The door was wood frame and got going. Smoke went inside the basement building.” Lal clarified the flames never reached the inside of the Bastion.

He said fire crews were unsure if gunpowder is stored in the basement for the cannons.

Nanaimo RCMP is now investigating the fire.

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