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
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.