Fire and smoke badly damaged a vacant building in downtown Maple Ridge on Friday.
No one was injured in the fire, which started around 4 p.m. on Fraser Street near North Avenue.
There was no electricity or gas connected to the building as it hasn’t been occupied since 2005.
It housed a hair dressing school and rental apartment suites in the past.
The Maple Ridge Fire Department believe the fire was started by a person.
“At this point, we don’t know if it’s accidental or designed,” said fire chief Dane Spence.
Police are investigating the fire.
Man electrocuted
A man was electrocuted while working in east Maple Ridge on Saturday morning.
A concrete truck with its boom in the air either came in contact or in close proximity to a high voltage line, sending an electrical charge surging through the ground in 12700-block of 256th Street around 9 a.m.
A worker standing nearby received a shock.
“It is extremely fortunate the man was not killed,” said fire chief Dance Spence.
The concrete mixer was filling a pump truck. Both were damaged by the surge.
The man was taken to hospital by paramedics.
Work Safe B.C. is investigating.