A suspect has been arrested after a fire erupted in the men’s clothing section of the Walmart in Courtenay on Thursday evening.
Both Comox Valley RCMP and Courtenay Fire Department responded to the scene shortly after 9:30 p.m. following reports of a fire inside the store.
Firefighters quickly extinguished the flames, conducting a thorough search of the building to ensure no other fires had started and to check for people still inside.
Crews then began ventilating the building to remove the smoke.
According to witnesses, the fire produced flames that shot eight to 10 feet into the air before being brought under control.
The Walmart was evacuated, and no injuries were reported.
The store remained closed over the weekend as investigators worked to determine the cause of the fire and repairs were underway. As of Sunday, the store had not yet reopened.
Investigators are seeking any witnesses who may have been in or around the store at the time.
“We are looking to speak with any witnesses who were at Walmart or may have been in the area at the time the fire occurred,” said Const. Monika Terragni, media relations officer with the Comox Valley RCMP.
The suspect remains in custody and is expected to appear in court in the coming days.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Comox Valley RCMP detachment at 250-334-5901 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.
