Businesses on busy lower Johnson Street were evacuated Saturday afternoon after a van caught fire.
Fire crews arrived on scene about 2:30 p.m. after receiving reports of a vehicle fire on Johnson Street, between Government and Wharf streets.
“It appears to be a malfunction in the Volkswagen’s heater,” said Victoria Fire Capt. Dan Mollberg. “They have auxiliary heaters, because the engine’s in the back. The driver has never used it before.”
The van pulled over to the side of the street after smoke was seen coming from a vent. The fire starting shortly afterward.
Police closed traffic on the block and evacuated local businesses.
“I saw a little smoke coming from the back of the car,” said Nicole Ng, owner of Daly Co. Boutique.
Ng contributed two fire extinguishers to the firefighting effort, which took place right outside her clothing store, before heading to the back of the store for fear the van might explode.
No one was injured in the fire, but the van was destroyed.
Two parked vehicles were also damaged, including a pickup owned by Colleen Combs.
Combs was at the Victoria India MeLa Festival at Centennial Square when she saw the smoke from the fire.
She decided to check on her vehicle, only to discover her 2008 Ford Ranger had been damaged.
“I was thinking, ‘Wow that’s really close to where my car is parked’ … Then I found out my vehicle was involved,” she said.
The wheels and side mirrors of the truck were melted by the fire, while the side had burn marks.
nwells@timescolonist.com
