National

Suspicious fire guts B.C. elementary school, plans underway for students and teachers

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 16 Oct, 2023 10:16 AM

Plans are underway to bring school life back to normal as quickly as possible for students and teachers at a Metro Vancouver elementary school that was destroyed in a suspicious weekend fire.

Coquitlam School District 43 says in a statement to families on its website that plans are in the works to support continued learning for the school community at Hazel Trembath Elementary School in Port Coquitlam.

Coquitlam RCMP say they are investigating a suspicious fire at the school, which was fully engulfed when first responders arrived at the scene early Saturday.

Terrible news this morning of a fire at Hazel Trembath Elementary school in Port Coquitlam this morning. Thank you to firefighters for responding so quickly and ensuring the fire did not spread. We will support school district, parents and students through this difficult time. https://t.co/wrdOowXApD
— Rachna Singh (@RachnaSinghNDP) October 14, 2023

1/I’m absolutely devastated to see the images of Hazel Trembath gone. As a former student myself & the parent of a Grade 1 student there, I know what a special place Hazel is. This is heartbreaking.

I’ve spoken with our Fire Department, our School District & senior city staff. pic.twitter.com/KbP1dtJkng
— Brad West (@BradWestPoCo) October 14, 2023

The RCMP urged the public to avoid the area in and around the school due to potentially hazardous air quality caused by the fire, saying road closures near the school should be expected for several days as the investigation continues.

About 215 students attended Hazel Trembath Elementary School.

The school district statement said "this is very sad news for our students, staff, and school community."

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C.'s premier urges Meta to allow news sharing in B.C. amid wildfire crisis

Eby is imploring the company and its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, to open up access to critical information that could keep residents safe as the province grapples with devastating wildfires that have forced thousands of people from their homes.

B.C.'s premier urges Meta to allow news sharing in B.C. amid wildfire crisis

At least 50 buildings lost to wildfire in West Kelowna, B.C., fire chief confirms

Early estimates suggest wildfires burning on both sides of British Columbia's Okanagan Lake have destroyed almost 60 structures in Kelowna area, officials said Monday. Fire chiefs from West Kelowna, Kelowna, and Lake Country said homes have been destroyed in their communities, with West Kelowna sustaining the most losses and higher numbers still expected.

At least 50 buildings lost to wildfire in West Kelowna, B.C., fire chief confirms

Translink boosting bus service as of September

Metro Vancouver’s transit authority is boosting bus services this fall as students return to schools across the region. TransLink says it will increase service levels on 22 bus routes starting on September 4, in addition to introducing a new extension for route 44 directly linking West Vancouver and U-B-C.

Translink boosting bus service as of September

Arrest in Seawall assaults

Police in Vancouver says a man has been arrested for assaulting people on the city's seawall this weekend. The department says on social media that officers responded to reports of the attacks Saturday.

Arrest in Seawall assaults

Prior Omicron infection didn't protect some seniors from reinfection, study finds

A new study has found that previous infection with an Omicron variant of COVID-19 did not protect seniors in long-term care and retirement homes from getting reinfected within a few months. Senior author and McMaster University immunologist Dawn Bowdish says the study results are surprising because they challenge the current thinking about hybrid immunity.

Prior Omicron infection didn't protect some seniors from reinfection, study finds

Smoke aids B.C. fire fight, as BC Wildfire Service warns about Hurricane Hilary

The BC Wildfire Service says weather across British Columbia will be impacted by a hurricane in Southern California, challenging firefighters already battling hundreds of fires that forced 30,000 people from their homes and caused a provincial state of emergency.