Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adam Donnelly

Parkcrest Fire

Could a sprinkler system have saved Parkcrest Elementary?

Sep 10, 2019 | 4:47 PM

KAMLOOPS — There’s some relief for those affected by the devastating fire at Parkcrest Elementary last week. RCMP have ruled out arson as the cause of the fire. However, Kamloops Fire Rescue is still investigating the exact cause of the blaze.

“A very thorough scene investigation was completed by Kamloops RCMP Fire Investigators, and Kamloops Fire Rescue Investigators which led to a ruling that criminal activity was not involved, [the fire] was suspicious in nature,” Kamloops RCMP Spokesperson Jodi Shelkie told CFJC Today.

And while that question has now been answered, it’s come to light that a significant number of schools throughout the district continue to operate without a fire suppression sprinkler system in the facility.

“The district has 26 schools that have sprinkler systems which means we have, I believe, 19 schools that do not,” Kelvin Stretch, Secretary-Treasurer for the school district said.

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Stretch explained during Monday’s press conference that SD73 is limited by the amount of capital that is available when it comes to upgrading facilities throughout the district.

“We receive annual facility grant funds, but it’s to provide maintenance to the building envelope of all our schools, and we operate 2 million square feet of school space,” Stretch explained. “[The district] has a schedule on how those schools will be updated for sprinkler systems, roofing, roll-down shutter, all of the basic envelope of a school.”

Stretch then went on to suggest that even if Parkcrest Elementary had a fully functioning sprinkler system, it might not have made a difference.

“The sprinkler system would not have saved the school, but it is a priority,” Stretch said. “We’re more interested in the safety aspect: the fire alarms, getting students and staff out of buildings if we have a problem, but we are continuing to address the sprinkler system issue.”

Kamloops Fire Rescue won’t go as far as saying a sprinkler system wouldn’t have save Parkcrest — at least, not yet. Instead, they’re concentrating on finding the cause of the fire that has thrown 350 kids out of their school.