Crews from Powell River Fire Rescue were on scene at Town Centre Mall approximately 4:15 pm Thursday, December 17, to attend to an underground fire in the mall’s parking lot.
Deputy fire chief Terry Peters said the cause of the fire has yet to be determined, but it looked as though a high-voltage wire that powers the parking lot's overhead lights came loose.
“It’s very odd to see this,” said Peters.
From the mall's access road the fire looked like a plume of steam coming up from the parking lot’s surface.
The area was cordoned off and Peters said BC Hydro was called out and mall staff cut power to the lights. Once the power was cut, the billowing smoke ceased.
"With all the people doing their Christmas shopping the safest thing to do is just keep the people away until we determine what has gone on,” he said.
Peters said BC Hydro crews will examine the power-line breakage further.
