A fire in a planter caused exterior cosmetic damage and interior smoke damage to the Ministry of Environment building on Labieux Road late Tuesday.
Firefighters knocked down the fire shortly before 11:30 p.m.
Ennis Mond, Nanaimo Fire Rescue fire prevention officer, said flames from a planter, located outside the structure, got into exterior foam insulation under the building's stucco cladding, causing burn damage to a six meter by one metre area. There is also some smoke damage to the building's interior.
No one was injured and what started the planter on fire is under investigation.