A stolen vehicle ended up ablaze in the Black Bear Pub parking lot early Thursday.
A 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser was engulfed in flames when fire crews arrived around 3 a.m.
"The vehicle was totally destroyed by the time we got there," said Doug Bell, chief fire investigator with Nanaimo Fire Rescue.
He said the car was stolen the night before and investigators believe it was intentionally set on fire.
"It's looking suspicious at this point," said Bell. "I don't think vehicles catch fire by themselves at three o'clock in the morning in an empty parking lot."