Denman Island firefighters responded to a structure fire at a vacant commercial building in downtown Denman Island, Tuesday afternoon. The call came in around 12:15 p.m. The building was located at 1151 Northwest Rd., near the community centre and the school.
Initial witness reports said glass from the windows could be heard popping, and smoke from the fire was visible around the Comox Valley through the afternoon.
Denman Fire Chief Don Luckett said there were no injuries.
”Our biggest concern was protecting exposures,” he said, noting the large surrounding fir trees.
Out of precaution, Luckett evacuated the school, preschool and a couple houses nearby. He also closed the store.
“The biggest problem with a structure fire like that is the overhaul,” Luckett said. “Our crews did an incredible job.”
RELATED STORY: One person dead as fire ravages Merville apartment
Twenty seven volunteer firefighters from Denman attended the blaze, along with four firefigthers from Hornby Island, and two from Fanny Bay.
“We put a fire watch on it through the night,” Luckett said.