Fire crews responded to Harewood Centennial Park on Thursday, Oct. 24 at around 4 p.m. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

arson

Deliberately set fire shuts down washroom at busy Nanaimo park

Oct 25, 2024 | 9:43 AM

NANAIMO — A senseless fire ignited inside a public washroom/changeroom unit at Harewood Centennial Park is under police investigation.

Nanaimo Fire Rescue (NFR) responded to the scene located adjacent to John Barsby Secondary School and the park’s sports courts on Thursday, Oct. 24 at about 4 p.m.

On scene, NFR Capt. Jody Lucas said crews arrived to see thick smoke rising from the building.

“It was in the male bathroom, just the one bathroom, smoke damage in the other bathroom, but no fire related activity.”

He said the male washroom’s paper towel dispenser was the source of the fire, estimating about $2,000 damage was done.

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The fire charred the back wall behind the dispenser, but flames didn’t expand beyond the immediate area, Lucas said.

An estimated $6,000 damages were caused as a result.

Nanaimo RCMP were on scene investigating.

The City of Nanaimo is providing portable washroom facilities at the park and that the changerooms were re-opened on Friday.

Signs of damage from the fire were apparent after NFR crews snuffed out flames from a deliberately set fire at Harewood Centennial Park. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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