Body found after fire at abandoned building in Nanaimo
The Nanaimo RCMP are investigating after the body of an adult was found following a fire at an abandoned building on Sunday.
Mounties say a patrol officer spotted smoke coming from the building located at 85 Wallace St. just after midnight and called other first responders.
Two people who were inside at the time of the fire and made it out before crews arrived at the scene.
Firefighters arrived soon after and extinguished the blaze. Crews then entered the building and located the deceased person on the first floor.
RCMP forensic investigators, Nanaimo Fire Rescue investigators and the BC Coroners Service are now trying to determine the cause of the fire and how the person died.
While the investigation is in its early stages, police say they do not believe foul play is involved.
"All we can say at this point is that an individual was found deceased inside the building," Nanaimo RCMP spokesperson Const. Gary O’Brien told CTV News.
Mounties believe that people were camping inside the building at the time of the fire.
The vacant property has been the site of several break-ins and fires since its closure more than a year ago.
The building used to be the Caledonia Medical Clinic and will eventually be demolished to make way for new construction.
The site has temporary fencing around the perimeter and all doors and windows have been boarded up.
Investigators were back Monday morning to do further examination of the scene and building.
The deceased person has not yet been identified, police said Monday.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Train derailed in Sarnia after colliding with a truck
Police are investigating after a transport truck collided with a train in Sarnia.
Fewer medical students going into family medicine contributing to doctor shortage
As some family doctors are retiring and others are moving away from family medicine, there are fewer medical students to take their place.
'It's discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.