Oak Bay Mayor Nils Jensen expects a home heavily damaged by fire will be demolished B次元官网网址渁t the earliest opportunityB次元官网网址�.

B次元官网网址淚n speaking with the representative of the owner, IB次元官网网址檝e been assured the building will be demolished at the earliest opportunity,B次元官网网址� Jensen said. B次元官网网址淲e have spoken with staff and certainly will expedite a demolition permit.B次元官网网址�

The Oak Bay, Saanich, and Victoria fire departments tackled the blaze at 57 Beach Drive for four hours from around 10:30 p.m. Sunday night (June 3).

More than 20 firefighters from three departments battled the blaze for four hours late Sunday.

B次元官网网址淭hat seamless cooperation ensures we have effective fire protection in Oak Bay,B次元官网网址� Jensen.

The house had been vacant since a and was covered in graffiti.

B次元官网网址淭he complaints were that people had broken into it or could be seen inside from time to time. There was no evidence that there was ever any squatters,B次元官网网址� Jensen said.

In a case where a building has significant damage, more than 75 per cent destroyed or the building is unsafe and in danger of collapsing, there is the ability to move forward with a demolition request by the community, Jensen said. This building did not apply after the 2013 fire. The district issued a permit to restore the building in February of this year.

Oak Bay fire and police keep an eye on empty buildings and there is a bylaw ensuring buildings are secure, said Cockle. The owner of the house has been compliant with those bylaws, he added.

B次元官网网址淔rom our perspective itB次元官网网址檚 suspicious in nature based on the realities of whatB次元官网网址檚 in the building,B次元官网网址� said Oak Bay Fire Chief Dave Cockle. B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 believe it was deliberately set at all.B次元官网网址�

Based on the intensity of the fire, officials are confident the origin of the blaze is on the second floor, what was previously the living room area, but canB次元官网网址檛 move forward with investigation of a specific cause.

B次元官网网址淲e know where the fire started but because of the structural integrity of the building itB次元官网网址檚 not safe to go in,B次元官网网址� said Cockle.