Motorist Len Landry used his Black Berry cell phone camera to snap this photo after he came across the fire Tuesday night at the eight kilometre mark on the Strathcona Parkway. Mounties say the fire was caused by vandals using firearms, with rifle and shotgun casings founds at the scene across the road from the three voltage regulators.
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ShareONLINE FIRST:Mounties find spent rifles, shotgun casings at fire scene
By Jules Xavier - Comox Valley Record
Published: August 14, 2008 7:00 AM
Updated: August 14, 2008 9:14 AM
An act of vandalism on Strathcona Parkway Tuesday night is expected to cost more than $100,000 to replace three destroyed voltage regulators and a charred power pole.
Comox Valley Mounties are investigating the "mischief over $5,000" incident that occurred on a flat stretch of the road leading up to the Mount Washington Ski Resort. Police were dispatched to the scene at the eight kilometre mark just before 7 p.m.
"The call originally came in as an assist to Coastal Forest Fire Service with a forest fire which started as a result of a power line failure," noted RCMP Const. Tammy Douglas. "On closer inspection it was determined that three B.C. Hydro regulators had been damaged and caught fire."
The vandalism led to live power lines falling, which caused an electrocution hazard for forest firefighters until power was cut to that area. The voltage regulators were destroyed by the fire.
"A witness in the area at the time heard four to six gunshots and then discovered the regulators on fire," said Douglas. "Five rifle and shotgun shell casings were located in a pullout opposite the voltage regulators. "
Len Landry was driving on the road up the mountain just after 6 p.m. when he came across the fully engulfed voltage regulators that sit on a platform between two poles. He snapped a few photos of the fire with his Black Berry cell phone prior to the arrival of firefighters.
"When I arrived, I pulled to the side and immediately took a picture," recalled Landry. "A man was already there and said he had called in the fire. A couple arrived and also called into the fire station, B.C. Hydro and forestry services.
"A lady in a brown small Chev pickup was also there and said she had heard an explosion. About 6:35 to 6:40 p.m. a helicopter arrived and circled for a while. I presume it was B.C. Hydro.
"About 7 p.m. a small fire truck arrived followed very shortly by a police cruiser. The lady in the pickup went and talked to the officer and told him of what she heard. The officer found some bullet casings by the road. "
B.C. Hydro crews were on the scene all day Wednesday removing the voltage regulators and damaged pole and putting in replacements in order to restore power to that remote area.
If you have any information on this incident call the Comox Valley RCMP at 250-338-1321. If you want to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. Crime Stoppers pays up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest. Douglas said police don't want your name, only your information that helps with their investigation.
news@comoxvalleyrecord.com
