A fire on a deck at 17 Mile House Pub in Sooke on Tuesday night was quickly extinguished by staff and customers.
The fire started about 6:15 p.m. at a meat smoker, and flames could be seen at a canopy but didn’t reach the building, owner Ken Whitaker told CHEK News.
Staff and some customers put out the fire with a fire extinguisher before the flames were able to spread to the building, at 5126 Sooke Rd.
By the time Sooke firefighters arrived, there was light smoke and no visible flames.
“Crews proceeded to clear smoke from the building to ensure the safety of patrons and staff before allowing the restaurant to re-open,” the District of Sooke said in a statement.
The district said that damage appears to have been limited to the smoker and a deck area.
Eric Stepura recorded video of the fire. He said the pub staff were heroic in getting people out safely and in extinguishing the fire.
Firefighters from Metchosin, Otter Point and East Sooke also responded to the fire.
