On Nov. 29 at 9:00 a.m, the Lake Cowichan RCMP were called in to assist the volunteer Lake Cowichan Fire Department at a fire that broke out at the old J.H. Boyd school site. After the fire was extinguished, an RCMP fire investigator attended the scene and it was determined the fire to be of a suspicious nature.
The fire broke out on the inside of the building, near an entrance which was spreading into the rafters of the structure. The quick, professional response by the local fire department extinguished this fire. As a result of this fire, the floor and ceiling are unstable and potentially dangerous.
“This building is private property and any person found inside will be subject to trespassing charges,” Cpl. Larry Olson said in a press release issued to the media.
The Lake Cowichan RCMP are continuing their investigation into the cause of fire. If any witnesses have any information to assist in this investigation they are asked to contact the Lake Cowichan RCMP at (250) 749-6668.
“This particular building has become a real dangerous structure and the whole property a nuisance for everyone” said LCFD’s Fire Chief Doug Knott.
This is not the first time the fire department has been called to this location. They have been called numerous times over the years because of fires being set in the empty buildings on the property.
The Town of Lake Cowichan has a derelict building bylaw in place and letters concerning this bylaw have been sent to the owner of this property, among others, in the past.
Mayor Ross Forrest says that another letter will be sent to the owner of this property after this latest incident.