An explosion felt by some residents in Nanaimo’s south end over the weekend was likely caused by fuel being added to a bonfire, police said.
Nanaimo RCMP Reserve Const. Gary O’Brien said a flurry of calls came in just before 2 a.m. on Saturday regarding a possible explosion and a structure fire at the 100-block of Rainier Street.
Police, ambulance, and fire crews converged on the location to find a group of people gathered at an outdoor party with a large bonfire, he said.
“They didn’t quite seem to understand the magnitude of the situation,” O’Brien said. “They don’t [seem] to understand what gasoline and fire can do.”
Fire crews determined that a jerry can or a propane can had likely been added to the bonfire, causing an explosion that was felt in a three-block radius, he said, adding that no one was injured and there was no damage to any surrounding structures.
Police had several discussions with nearby residents who had come out to see what was happening, he said. “They were quite heated. They were quite dismayed by the attitude displayed by the people in the home.”
No charges have been laid in relation to the incident.
