Fire damaged a major section of the Cobblestone Pub in Cobble Hill on Friday morning.
A resident who lives above the pub was woken up by smoke alarms at about 7:30 a.m. and called 911. Smoke could be seen billowing from the Tudor-style building.
Mill Bay Fire Chief Ron Beck said about two dozen firefighters from the Mill Bay, Lake Cowichan Fire and Shawnigan Lake fire departments responded and fought the blaze with an interior attack.
The fire was contained to the bar and back storage area.
“A good portion of the building is burned out,” Beck said.
He said it’s too early to say what caused the fire.
Beck said the quick call to 911 allowed firefighters to prevent the building’s structure from being ravaged by fire. “It’s going to be a lot of money but I’m sure they can restore it,” he said.
The Cobblestone Pub has been operating since 1983. The site was the location of the Cobble Hill division of the Cowichan Creamery, a community hub from 1895 to the early 1940s, according to the pub’s website.
