Suspicious fire under investigation

By Mardy Bacigalupo - Golden Star - March 19, 2008

MEMBERS OF THE Golden Fire Department responded to a request from the Ministry of Forests to put out the remains of a demolished house on Anderson Road last week. Ashley Mahlberg, Jason Prsa, Dave Hurd and Rick Mathews spent nearly four hours trying to penetrate the large pile of garbage, to no avail.

Ministry of Forests requested the services of Golden’s fire department last Thursday, when a demolished home on Anderson Road was discovered ablaze early in the morning.

The home owners, who live in Aldergrove, British Columbia, purchased the home some time ago, and had it demolished. Prior to demolition, they reportedly asked the Town of Golden if the fire department was interested in setting the structure on fire, for fire practice.

According to chief Shawn Tomash, the ultimate decision was up to the town.

“We have a controlled practice house to practice in,” explains Phil Taylor, Town of Golden chief administrative officer. “Doing someone a favour to burn down a derelict building is not really a practice. We are not in the demolition business. The easiest answer was no. To say yes, would have required the owner to get a permit from the Ministry of Environment or the Ministry of Forests, to create and sign a contract with the Town of Golden so our crew would have Worksafe BC coverage for working out of town, and to insure all the equipment and vehicles so that there was no risk to town resources, people, equipment and trucks by doing this “favour”.”

An Invermere-based Conservation Officer was on the scene investigating the environmental impacts of the fire. Through the Provincial Emergency Program, it was determined there was a threat to Golden’s air, with the garbage and debris that was burning, and the environment department of the Ministry of Forests requested the fire department’s assistance.

“When the fire department finally went it was at the request of the Ministry of Forests, who provided a task number so the town fire rescue department was covered by Worksafe BC and our equipment was insured because of the noxious fumes emitted,” Taylor explains.

Tomash says a small crew responded to the request, and spent nearly four hours trying to penetrate the burning pile. They were unsuccessful. He says the ministry would have needed to bring in equipment to break up the pile in order for the fire to be completely out.

The dirty, blue was first seen before 8 a.m. on Thursday. Taylor says he noticed the smoke was still rising at 10 p.m.

According to Tomash, a light snowfall overnight seemed to help the efforts. He adds the conservation officer is continuing to investigate the cause of the fire.

Golden’s Fire Department typically only responds to fires within town boundaries, unless there are threats to life, the environment or the town.

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Suspicious fire under investigation

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