A structurally devastating fire ripped through the front part of the Evergreen Mall at 6660 Sooke Road this morning in Sooke. The Sooke Dance Studio and RBC Royal Bank offices are completely demolished, and the offices from end-to-end in the front section are completely unsalvageable

The fire started at around five in the morning and at one point was fairly contained. A firefighter said that the spaces between the walls allowed the fire to spread rapidly within the building, shooting from office to office.

B次元官网网址淲e have the Sooke B次元官网网址 Mirror, thereB次元官网网址檚 an insurance office, there a dance studio upstairs, (and) a software company. The majority of the upstairs was vacant,B次元官网网址� said Fire Chief Steve Sorenson when he spoke to the media.

The businesses behind the front run, from the liquor store onward, should be okay. There is a fire wall separating the liquor store from the rest of the building, and an alleyway behind the building separating it from the other businesses. Sorensen said they have a crew on the roof monitoring the situation, to ensure that it doesnB次元官网网址檛 spread.

B次元官网网址淎t this point,B次元官网网址� Sorensen continued, B次元官网网址渨eB次元官网网址檙e calling it a suspicious fire. It appears it may have started at the back, at the rear of the bank building.B次元官网网址� When asked if it started in the dumpster, Sorensen replied, B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not too sure what it is at this point, but itB次元官网网址檚 definitely suspicious.B次元官网网址�

As for how it began, Sorensen said, B次元官网网址淚t looks like started on the ground floor and it travelled up in the wall to the second floor.B次元官网网址�

The police were also on site.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e waiting for extra help to come in. WeB次元官网网址檝e already had a police dog here. Once this cools down, weB次元官网网址檒l bring in forensic ident (identification) section as well as a general investigation section out of our Island District headquarters,B次元官网网址� said Staff Sergeant Steve Wright. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got some information to follow up on. It may or may not be an arson, we donB次元官网网址檛 know yet; it could have been an accident. WeB次元官网网址檙e not jumping to any conclusions.B次元官网网址�

District of Sooke Mayor Wendal Milne was looking on as the building stood in smoldering ruins.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an old building. I think it was built in the early 70s,B次元官网网址� said Milne. B次元官网网址淭he fire departments have done a great job; I think theyB次元官网网址檝e done everything they could. It was a very difficult fire to deal with. A couple (of firefighters) just got out before stuff started collapsing. ItB次元官网网址檚 a dangerous fire, and aggressive fire, to deal with.B次元官网网址�

Milne wrapped up by acknowledging the collaboration of other fire stations in the area. B次元官网网址淭hank goodness for cooperation with places like Langford, Otter Point, East Sooke, and Metchosin who have all come here to help out.B次元官网网址�

The fire was heavily drawing on the water in the Sooke reservoir.

UPDATE: The CRD announced that water supply to Sooke residents has been returned to normal. "This morning, the large amounts of water needed to fight a major structure fire in Sooke raised concerns about drawing down the water level in Helgeson Reservoir. This concern has now passed and the water supply to Sooke residents is returning to normal," reads a notice on their website ()

B次元官网网址淎bout an hour ago, we were down to half,B次元官网网址� said Sorensen, at 10:35 a.m. B次元官网网址淎t one point we were going through five thousand gallons a minute.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淒efinitely the biggest fire of the year,B次元官网网址� wrapped up Sorensen, B次元官网网址渕aybe even in the last few years.B次元官网网址�

There were no reported injuries, though the firefighters did have to contend with the floor on the second floor over the bank collapsing.

By the early afternoon, demolition of the east wing of the building that housed RBC had begun.

Just after eight, after the entire roof had been demolished, the fire crew was packing up for the night.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been a long day,B次元官网网址� said Sorensen, after more than 14 hours of being on site. B次元官网网址淎nd weB次元官网网址檒l be back here at eight in the morning.B次元官网网址� By the evening, there were no hot spots remaining, B次元官网网址淏ut I wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be surprised if something pops up in the night.B次元官网网址� Sorensen said B次元官网网址淭here will be security here all night.B次元官网网址�