Guests at a resort owned by locals in the interior of British Columbia were evacuated Sunday morning and watched firefighters try to contain the flames that engulfed the roof of the building.
Quaaout Lodge, a 70-room hotel and chalet near Chase, is run by the Little Shuswap Lake Band, which is part of the Secwépemc Nation. Kukpi7 James Toma told Castanet that Skwlax and Chase Fire Rescue firefighters were still working to contain the blaze Sunday afternoon.
Thomas told Castanet that the group will have more information in the coming days about the incident, but he said the community intends to recover.
“We had an emergency meeting with the staff and management of our lodge. There is nothing we can do about the fact that much of our hut has disappeared. But as a community and everything, we will work through it, we will restore it, “said Thomas.
“We are one of the largest employers in the region, so we will not move away. We can go through that. “
The photo was sent by Joel Levy
According to the resort’s website, the idea for a group-owned resort dates back to 1979. The lodge and spa opened in 1992, and a golf course and conference center were added in later years.
Joel Levy, who was visiting Toronto with a group, was having breakfast when the fire alarm went off around 8:30 a.m. He stood in the parking lot with others who were staying there, many of whom had disappeared without their wallets or car keys, watching the fire spread.
“By the time the first fire truck arrived about 25 minutes later, it was completely out of control,” he told CTV News.
“Many of our group were still in their beds and were awakened by the alarm. Many people are only in their nightgowns.”
The guests were taken to a nearby orchestra room, where they were offered food and water and contacted by emergency services to find accommodation while the teams continued to put out the fire.
“When I left, the actual flames seemed to be extinguished. They will probably pour water on it all night.
The photo was sent by Joel Levy
Levy said the resort appears to be fully occupied, with only a few vacant parking spaces. A woman he was talking to was there for a wedding and left without a chance to take the rings.
However, he says the main concern of the guests is the impact that the fire will have on the people who work there and on the community as a whole.
“It’s all just things. It’s a very small community, a lot of people work in the hut. It’s the biggest concern of everyone here,” he said.
“A lot of these people will be able to leave tomorrow and come back to life without a few clothes. But it will affect the community for years to come, maybe, especially if they have to rebuild this whole thing.”
The photo was sent by Joel Levy
Grand Chief Stuart Philip, President of the Union of the Indian Chief of British Columbia, expressed his sympathy and support for the Little Shuswap Lake Band and the people of Secwépemc.
“I liked the Quaaout hut. Great food. Local menu. Very good memories. “It’s a sad day,” he said in a statement on Twitter.
A video posted on social media shows thick puffs of smoke rising from the roof along with the flames.
CTV News contacted RCMP and Chase Fire and Rescue for more information. This history will be updated if received.
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