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WATCH: Island Highway reopens after Big O Tire catches fire, sends employee to hospital

Fire started when employees were working on a vehicle’s fuel tank, says fire chief
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Fire crews tackle a blaze at Big O Tires on the West Shore on Sept. 8. (Black Press Media photo)

One person is in hospital after a tire shop in View Royal caught fire.

Photos show the Big O Tires West Shore, at 1705 Island Highway, consumed with black smoke.

Fire crews from Colwood, Langford and View Royal were able to contained the blaze to the tire shop.

READ ALSO: Fire crews douse grass fire the length of hockey rink near Station Avenue in Langford

According to View Royal Acting Fire Chief Rob Marshall, the fire started while employees were working on a vehicle’s fuel tank.

“Typically they remove the fuel, but some vapors must have ignited somehow,” he said, adding that the person taken to hospital was an employee who was working on the vehicle.

Marshall called the fire “stubborn” because of all the tire storage and a large amount of flammable material inside the building. He added there are a few more vehicles inside, which are posed a risk to fire crews while battling the blaze.

Marshall estimated the blaze to be around 100 feet by 50 feet.

Traffic was slow-moving in the area for a number of hours as portions of the Island Highway were shut down near Six Mile Road but was reopened around 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday evening.

READ ALSO: Washington wildfires likely cause for Greater Victoria’s smoke-filled skies


 

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