A popular highway-side market and fruit stand was destroyed overnight by fire. A cause of the blaze is unknown (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

completely destroyed

Highway market near Nanaimo Airport destroyed by overnight fire

Oct 4, 2023 | 9:12 AM

NANAIMO — There was little which could be done to save a highway icon south of the city from succumbing to fire overnight.

Crews from Cranberry Volunteer Fire Department, along with several others in the area, were called out to the Cassidy Farm and Market Deli along Hwy. 1, across from Nanaimo Airport around 3 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 4, with flames and smoke pouring out of the wooden structure.

Store owner Grant Fong told NanaimoNewsNOW on scene he was awoken at his nearby home by sirens, and then saw flashing emergency lights in the direction of his store. He headed out to see what had happened, thinking it was an accident on the highway.

“As I turned the corner onto the highway, I saw that the front of the market was full of fire trucks and there’s a ladder that had a light shining on the market, there was smoke billowing out. It was a shock to see that the building was on fire.”

The building was under the ownership of the Fong family for nearly 25 years, but had stood in the area long before under different owners. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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RCMP officers were on scene along with BC Ambulance paramedics, although there were no reported injuries.

Fong, who had owned the building and business with his wife for 23 years, said the property was “locked up tight” and he was not aware of anybody being around.

“It’s hard to speculate [the cause of the fire], I don’t really know at this point. The fire investigator should be coming pretty soon and they’ll tell us the cause of the fire so I’m going to wait until then.”

Fong and his family had stepped away from running the business this year, passing it off to two women who were in their first year operating.

He said they were excited to take the popular stand over and he feels for them in this situation.

Insurance will dictate the next steps for Fong who said the building and business have held a special place in the local community.

“It’s been a great business for our family, our kids were basically raised here and they did a lot of work here. We purchased the market from the Johnson’s and their kids worked here, we all made lots of friends and had some great experiences here. It’s pretty sad.”

He added he was instantly attracted to the site, its vibe, and community spirit, when he saw it in the late 1990’s.

Little is left of the building, still covered in firefighting foam Wednesday morning. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Despite the fire and the loss, Fong remained upbeat about moving forward.

“Only material things, we’ll always have our memories of the place and we’ll see what happens in the future.”

The fire is not considered suspicious at this time.

Southbound traffic was briefly blocked as a result of the incident, with detours set up. However a bulk of the delays were cleared before the morning commute.

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