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
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976926.1721883767!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
AS IT HAPPENED Wildfire reaches Jasper Wednesday night, causes 'significant loss'
One of two wildfires threatening Jasper National Park reached the townsite Wednesday night and caused 'significant loss.'
Alberta calls in army to assist with wildfire situation
Alberta has called in the Canadian Armed Forces to help assist with the worsening wildfire situation in the province.
Biden explains why he ended re-election bid in Oval Office address
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Norad intercepts Russian and Chinese bombers operating together near Alaska in apparent first
The North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers flying near Alaska Wednesday in what appears to be the first time the two countries have been intercepted while operating together.
2 Canadians being 'sent home immediately,' removed from Olympic team after drone incident
An analyst and an assistant coach with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and 'sent home immediately,' according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
An unwelcome attendee has joined the Paris Olympic Games: COVID-19
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Vacations, meals, booze: Contractor used $100K of charity's money for personal expenses, B.C. court finds
A B.C. man who was hired to help a non-profit build a food hub but instead spent the money on personal expenses – including travel, restaurants, booze and cannabis – has been ordered to pay more than $120,000 in damages.
Male, female killed, 2 others injured in 'gun battle' outside Toronto plaza: police
Two people are dead and two others suffered serious injuries following a shooting that police have described as a 'gun battle' outside a plaza in Scarborough, Ont. early Wednesday morning.