The Campbell River fire department is investigating a structure fire just south of downtown.
It happened after 10:00pm last night, in a three-storey commercial building along the 871 block of Old Island Highway.
Campbell River fire chief Thomas Doherty said when crews arrived, they saw “fire extending from the second floor windows of a business.”
Doherty said they knocked the fire down fairly quickly but not before it caused smoke and water damage to Miki’s Sesame Sushi.
“We haven’t figured out the dollar value yet but the damage is primarily in the kitchen area of the restaurant,” Doherty said. “There is some smoke and water damage throughout the sitting area ub the restaurant and a little bit of smoke damage in some of the other units and some water damage below, but for the most part the fire was contained to the kitchen area of the restaurant.”
He said that “certainly, the kitchen would have to be destroyed.”
Neighbouring units suffered smoke and water damage, as well, Doherty said.
All told, 22 firefighters responded through the night. Crews used two engines and two aerial apparatus to battle the blaze.
BC Ambulance was also on standby.
The investigation is ongoing, Doherty said.
“The building is closed, so we hope to do an assessment this morning just to see if we can enable some of those businesses to get back in there.”
