Shortly after 1 p.m. on Dec. 22, it was all hands on deck to fight a structure fire east of Telkwa.
Telkwa and Smithers fire crews, along with paramedics, RCMP, Pacific Northern Gas, and BC Hydro attended the fire at Fort Telkwa along Highway 16.
There were no injuries, and the fire remains under investigation.
The fire broke out in what was a work shop in the confines of the Fort, and due to the freezing temperatures, the amount of water used, and extensive fire damage, the roof partially collapsed, leaving the building too unstable for investigators to determine the cause.
“We were using the resources, crews and trucks from Smithers and Telkwa to pump over 25 thousand gallons of water on the fire, but the freezing temperatures caused several challenges working on the site,” said Telkwa Fire chief Derek Dickson.
There are no fire hydrants in front of Fort Telkwa, making it necessary to use the pumper trucks for water.
READ MORE: Excavator tumbles into Bulkley River killing operator
“In these temperatures (-23*c at the time), it is very tough on the equipment and people,” Dickson explained.
“This has been a very difficult year for this family, so we are very grateful there were no injuries, and all fire crew members arrived on scene quickly and got the fire under control and out, although we continue to monitor for hot spots and safety.”
In August of this year, one of the owners of Fort Telkwa, was killed when equipment he was operating tipped over the bank of the Bulkley River.
~With files from Marisca Bakker
