A quick-acting Good Samaritan dialling 911 may have saved one of Smithers’ best known historical landmarks from certain destruction.
At about 2:30 a.m. on March 9, the Smithers Volunteer Fire Department was alerted to a call reporting smoke coming from the area around the Old Church. Firefighters entered the building and found a heavy odour of burning, said Fire Chief Keith Stecko.
“We were able to determine it was coming from the Old Church and upon further investigation found it was a garbage can with wood shavings in it and some oily rags that had spontaneously combusted,” Stecko said.
“It was sort of on the tipping scale for it completely catching on fire. It was just beginning to smoulder and there was a lot of heavy smoke in the building.
“If that person hadn’t [called 911] it would have been a very different situation.”
The Old Church had been closed while the building’s floors were being refinished, said Fergus Tomlin.
“It could have been a far more serious situation,” Tomlin said. “It was very, very lucky.
“We’re in deep gratitude to the silent member of the public and the Smithers Volunteer Fire Department. We would love to know who it was who called 911 so we could express our gratitude.”
The Old Church suffered no damage.
“Someone was passing by and thought something was wrong and they decided to act,” Stecko said. “Quite frankly, they’re credited with saving the building.”
The event highlights how much the fire department relies on calls from the public to respond to events in a timely manner.
“If the public thinks there is the potential of an emergency or feel there is an emergency pending, please call 911,” Stecko said.