A structure fire at on Cowichan Lake Rd. caused the road's closure between Menzies and Payne roads as crews tried to tackle the blaze.
The callout for fire crews came at roughly 3:45 p.m. and crews were still working around 5 p.m. The North Cowichan Fire Department's hoses blocked the roadway and traffic flaggers were at the scene to turn around the drivers making their evening commutes home.
"Access to Cowichan Lake Road is available from Highway 18 at Paldi and through Gibbins, Barnjum, and Riverbottom Roads," said a notice on the Sahtlam Fire Departmen's Facebook page at 5 p.m. "Please be patient as North Cowichan's traffic controllers assist motorists in navigating this closure. If you don't need to pass through the area then stay clear as many residents are turning around to take alternate routes home."
Two North Cowichan fire tenders, a command vehicle, and a BC Hydro crew attended the scene, which was a sweltering 32 C in the shade. Crews from the South End and Maple Bay halls worked on the flames, which could be seen billowing from the barn roof as firefighters put water on them.
Neighbours said the fire was in an old barn undergoing renovations and the fire department arrived so quickly that any chances of the fire spreading to their yard was quickly quashed.
The structure is believed to have been unoccupied at the time of the fire. Witnesses say the damage to the barn is substantial.
More to come as it becomes available.
