An early Saturday morning fire near a Dairy Queen location in Duncan that threatened a long-term care facility has been deemed as suspicious by RCMP.
Police said that its officers and Duncan firefighters responded to a fire about 5 a.m. on Saturday, which first began at bushes behind the Dairy Queen on the 300-block of Trans Canada Highway, but had spread and jumped to the exterior trim of to the nearby long-term care facility, Sunridge Place.
The fire was extinguished quickly by the Duncan Fire Department, police said in a statement.
Staff Sgt. Ken Beard of North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP said that initial investigation indicates that the fire was suspicious.
Duncan Mayor Michelle Staples thanked firefighters and first responders who dealt with the fire.
“Our hearts go out to the people impacted by the fire and fear caused when the alarms sounded early in the morning,” she said in a statement.
Anyone with information or surveillance video of suspicious activity from the area around the 300-block of the Trans Canada Highway is asked to call North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP at 250-548-5522.
