Oceanside RCMP say it’s suspicious that fires have damaged two bakeries in the French Creek area of Parksville less than 24 hours apart.
The first fire was reported at the Sandcastle Bakery about 5 p.m. Thursday.
Volunteer firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze, and the rear of the business was only moderately damaged. The bakery was closed at the time, and there were no injuries, said Cpl. Jesse Foreman.
Just before 1 p.m. Friday, the French Creek Bakery burned to the ground. The business was open at the time, but employees and customers made it out safely, Foreman said.
Despite the best efforts of firefighters, the older building was destroyed in a matter of minutes. The RCMP and Parksville Volunteer Fire Department are investigating the cause of the fires.
Parksville’s volunteer firefighters managed to stop the blaze at French Creek Bakery, at 894 Island Highway West, from spreading to adjacent buildings in the compound, which also houses Sam’s Sushi Restaurant and the Salvation Army Food Bank.
Krissy Butterfield, a server at the sushi restaurant, said a customer who had just left came running back in.
“She was screaming: ‘Fire. Fire. Everybody get out,’ ” Butterfield said.
“We got everyone out as soon as possible and everyone out of our little compound here. It continued to burn.”
Lots of people from around the neighbourhood came out of their houses, Butterfield said.
The crowd watched flames shooting into the air as two propane tanks exploded.
Butterfield said the business is a German bakery selling soups and sandwiches.
“It has new owners, which really sucks for them,” she said.
