Greenhouse reduced to ashes after fire

Chris Nickless photo

The greenhouse at Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School was completely engulfed when 100 Mile House Fire-Rescue arrived on the scene on July 18.

Fire Chief Darrell Blades said the department got the call at 3:53 a.m. and the glow and smoke from the flames could be seen four kilometres away.

Blades said the fire was suspicious and is under investigation.

The greenhouse has been an integral part of the school and the community looks forward to the school’s annual plant sale.

Principal Vic Brett said this fire was a real shocker.

He praised the fire department and said they were wonderful in their response and very professional.

“Many students use the greenhouse as a stepping stone to go on to careers in horticulture,” he said.

The greenhouse was the scene of vandalism just before this year’s plant sale but Brett said that was just damage to some plants, not the building.

“Vandalism is not that common in the school,” said Brett.

Brett said there are already security devices elsewhere in the school and he would talk to

the district about security in the greenhouse if

it is rebuilt.

It will be rebuilt, said District Principal Harj Manhas.

He said an insurance adjustor is coming from Kamloops to put a value on the structure and then the project would be put out to tender.

Manhas said the tender process could take up to a month and then it depends on the contractor’s schedule when it would be built.

“It’s an important part of our students’ education,” said Manhas.