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UPDATE: Police recover stolen vehicle at fire scene in Maple Bay

No injuries in fire
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RCMP recover stolen vehicle at scene of fire on April 2 on Maple Bay Road. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

Officers from the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP detachment located a stolen vehicle and assisted at a house fire on Maple Bay Road on April 2.

The vehicle was recovered without incident and there were no injuries in the house fire.

A press release said that during patrols of the community, a sharp-eyed RCMP officer observed a vehicle recently reported stolen.

It was parked outside of a home occupied by squatters and familiar to police.

After one man was arrested for possession of stolen property, the owner of the vehicle was made aware of the recovery, and the man arrested was later released with an upcoming court date.

While police were on scene, a number of people came out of the house and reported that it was on fire.

Police contacted the Municipality of North Cowichan’s fire services.

Two fire halls, Maple Bay and South End, attended the scene and soon had the fire under control, but not before it had done severe damage to the building.

Martin Drakeley, North Cowichan’s manager of fire and bylaw services, said the fire was contained to the room of origin.

There were no injuries to anyone inside or outside the home.

The fire is not suspicious and was not related to police attendance at the house.

“Through these unprecedented times, I am proud of the work done by frontline police officers and other first responders,” said Staff Sergeant Chris Swain, operations NCO of the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP detachment.

“Our goal is always to do our part in keeping the community safe.”