No injuries reported at structure fire at Klahoose Health Centre, surrounding buildings

A red fire truck parked outside a community building.
A Cortes Island Volunteer Fire Department vehicle parked out front of Klahoose Community Centre following the fire last Wednesday. Photo courtesy of Cortes Island Volunteer Fire Department.
Louis Belcourt - CKTZ - Cortes IslandBC | 01-12-2022
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Authorities confirmed that no one was injured during an evening structure fire at the Khaloose First Nation Reserve last Wednesday.

Cortes Island Volunteer Fire Department received a call about a fire next to the Klahoose Health Centre around 9:42 p.m.

Eli Mckenty, interim fire chief, said that there were three structures behind the health centre that were "fully involved" in the fire when crews arrived, and they were on scene "about 15 minutes" after the 911 call.

"So we [rolled] right up in front of the [health centre] building that we were attempting to protect, and we were able to shoot over it and really knock things down fast," Mckenty said Thursday morning.

The local fire department brought all of their vehicles to fight the fire, and Mckenty said the local fire hydrants were put to great use to assist with water supply.

Eventually, the fire was extinguished by mid-morning. Mckenty said the backside of the health centre was also on fire but "they managed to knock that down and save the health centre, and the fourth house, which wasn't involved. The public building was just starting to go up."

There is no known cause of the fire at this time.

A Klahoose official news release Nov. 24 also confirmed that the three buildings involved in the fire have been destroyed but "everyone is safe" and that the Strathcona Regional District Emergency Social Services have been activated and is providing additional support for the community.

A GoFundMe page was created to support Sandy Emmonds, a resident who lost her home and all her belongings in the fire.

Listen below for more details from the interim fire chief Eli Mckenty: