Hamhuis Hip Check Posted June 18, 2021 Share Posted June 18, 2021 Fire at Whiskey Creek gas station, Highway 4 has reopened June 18, 2021 UPDATED CHEK Firefighters responding to a gas station fire in Whiskey Creek Thursday. UPDATE: A stretch of Highway 4 has reopened following a large fire at a gas station in Whiskey Creek. The fire sparked at the Mid-Island Co-op located along Highway 4, near Epron Rd. Highway 4 is the route that connects the Inland Island Highway to Port Alberni. In videos posted to Facebook from passing cars, a white van, which is parked under the Co-op roof located over the pumps, can be seen engulfed in flames. Thick black smoke can be seen billowing from the gas station lot over the highway. “Came around the corner there and all you could see was big black smoke coming and next thing you know you get a little closer and all you can see is the RV that was in the gas station there and it’s completely engulfed in flames,” witness James Colby Walker told CHEK News. Henk Holtkamb, another witness, explains what he saw and heard as he was stopped on the highway. “Heavy heavy smoke and flames going up and so we stopped here and all of a sudden there were big explosions,” Numerous mid-Island fire departments responded to the blaze and are continuing to deal with hot spots. As crews continue to work on the scene, images from after the fire show that the structure, as well as the white van, appear to have sustained significant damage. At this point, the cause of the fire is unknown. It is also not clear whether anyone has been hurt as a result of the blaze. This is a developing story and will be updated as more information is learned. Courtesy of Chris Cappellani Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coconuts Posted June 18, 2021 Share Posted June 18, 2021 Sucks, great place to get ice cream after coming back from Cathedral Grove or the Pacific Rim Nobody was seriously injured to my knowledge, one of my buddy's daughter was working 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamhuis Hip Check Posted June 18, 2021 Author Share Posted June 18, 2021 1 hour ago, Coconuts said: Sucks, great place to get ice cream after coming back from Cathedral Grove or the Pacific Rim Nobody was seriously injured to my knowledge, one of my buddy's daughter was working Glad to know no one got injured. They usually have a good selection of fireworks so i was very worried about those going off around people. Yeah im from port alberni so this is heartbreaking for us. Its a local landmark for us and even if it gets rebuilt it will never be the same 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LloydVH Posted June 18, 2021 Share Posted June 18, 2021 I have been camping in the area as long as I can remember - so around 55 years! I have watched this store grow and change over the years. Many fond memories there - and way better ice cream than the crowded long line up Coombs Market! This is heartbreaking! Thank God we were there last month for what we now know was one last ice cream. I hope they rebuilt it!!! I know it wont be the same, but maybe with some careful planning it could be even better! :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goalie13 Posted June 18, 2021 Share Posted June 18, 2021 I was following this last night. Apparently there were no fire hydrants in the area so they had to truck in the water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamhuis Hip Check Posted June 18, 2021 Author Share Posted June 18, 2021 1 hour ago, goalie13 said: I was following this last night. Apparently there were no fire hydrants in the area so they had to truck in the water. Sounds about right for the area. Not exactly a thriving metropolis there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coconuts Posted June 18, 2021 Share Posted June 18, 2021 7 hours ago, Hamhuis Hip Check said: Glad to know no one got injured. They usually have a good selection of fireworks so i was very worried about those going off around people. Yeah im from port alberni so this is heartbreaking for us. Its a local landmark for us and even if it gets rebuilt it will never be the same No doubt, it's definitely sad. And yeah, you can't replace it, not really. Lot of memories for people making their way through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goalie13 Posted June 18, 2021 Share Posted June 18, 2021 1 hour ago, Hamhuis Hip Check said: Sounds about right for the area. Not exactly a thriving metropolis there Agreed. We camp at Little Qualicum sometimes and go to Coombs from time to time, so I sort of know the area. Heading to Sproat lake this year. I'll know to not plan on stopping here for ice cream on the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamhuis Hip Check Posted June 18, 2021 Author Share Posted June 18, 2021 13 minutes ago, goalie13 said: Agreed. We camp at Little Qualicum sometimes and go to Coombs from time to time, so I sort of know the area. Heading to Sproat lake this year. I'll know to not plan on stopping here for ice cream on the way. Take a detour through coombs and go to the market there. They have a good ice cream spot plus a donut store that is awesome. Plus seeing the goats is always fun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadcanucks Posted June 18, 2021 Share Posted June 18, 2021 11 minutes ago, Hamhuis Hip Check said: Take a detour through coombs and go to the market there. They have a good ice cream spot plus a donut store that is awesome. Plus seeing the goats is always fun Goats on the roof at the Old Country Market--one of the coolest things for your little kids or grand kids to see while enjoying an ice cream cone from the Coombs Ice Cream Parlour. One of my family's favorite pit stops on Vancouver Island. Hope everyone is okay at the Whiskey River Co-op. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AV's Coin Posted June 18, 2021 Share Posted June 18, 2021 Imagine all the melted ice cream 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goalie13 Posted June 18, 2021 Share Posted June 18, 2021 On overhead view of the damage... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TNucks1 Posted June 18, 2021 Share Posted June 18, 2021 14 hours ago, Coconuts said: Sucks, great place to get ice cream after coming back from Cathedral Grove or the Pacific Rim Nobody was seriously injured to my knowledge, one of my buddy's daughter was working didnt the dude drive his trailer into the parking lot while his camper was on fire so he could get a hose or something? thats what i read on facebook so who knows if its true but what an idiot if it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coconuts Posted June 19, 2021 Share Posted June 19, 2021 5 hours ago, TNucks1 said: didnt the dude drive his trailer into the parking lot while his camper was on fire so he could get a hose or something? thats what i read on facebook so who knows if its true but what an idiot if it is. That's what I've heard, but my dad said he was looking for a fire extinguisher 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TNucks1 Posted June 19, 2021 Share Posted June 19, 2021 1 minute ago, Coconuts said: That's what I've heard, but my dad said he was looking for a fire extinguisher i know but pulls up too a gas station while its on fire lol, guess he was panicking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coconuts Posted June 19, 2021 Share Posted June 19, 2021 9 minutes ago, TNucks1 said: i know but pulls up too a gas station while its on fire lol, guess he was panicking Must have been, my first thought would be get out of of vehicle and call 911 Not worth having something explode Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TNucks1 Posted June 19, 2021 Share Posted June 19, 2021 1 minute ago, Coconuts said: Must have been, my first thought would be get out of of vehicle and call 911 Not worth having something explode not sure what type of trailer it was, but shouldnt they have some on deck already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamhuis Hip Check Posted June 19, 2021 Author Share Posted June 19, 2021 9 hours ago, TNucks1 said: didnt the dude drive his trailer into the parking lot while his camper was on fire so he could get a hose or something? thats what i read on facebook so who knows if its true but what an idiot if it is. Sadly there was plenty of safer space just 100 feet up the road. Theres a borderline abandoned storage facility there but would have been a much safer place to pull into Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TNucks1 Posted June 20, 2021 Share Posted June 20, 2021 Article: https://www.victoriabuzz.com/2021/06/footage-shows-moment-before-gas-station-goes-up-in-flames-near-qualicum-beach-video/?fbclid=IwAR3CgzsqM1X5ufYugvgafD3Wn1IDgY1TSR8Kcr16XepWVusZQPtzrLUxdaY Video: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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