Crews remain at Quaaout Lodge following Sunday's fire (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

QUAAOUT LODGE FIRE

Investigators probe Quaaout fire scene; chief relieved artifacts were saved

May 24, 2022 | 4:11 PM

CHASE, B.C. — “We aren’t going to walk away. We will get through this. We are going to rebuild,” said Kukpi7 James Tomma, Little Shuswap Lake Band chief.

The fire at the Quaaout Lodge broke out around 8:30 am on Sunday morning (May 22) with crews from the band fire department responding to the scene. Kukpi7 Tomma arrived shortly thereafter to see the building fully engulfed in flames.

“By the time I got down there, the accommodation wing was on fire and we had lost that part. Our lobby, restaurant and conference centre are intact, but that’s what it is — it’s intact,” said Tomma.

The Chase Fire Department was called in to assist the band. Fire Chief Brian Lauzon’s team worked to protect the conference side of the lodge, which saw the fire burst through in the afternoon.

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“When we arrived, we were trying to contain the fire. It had already breached the roof and walls. Most of it had already collapsed when we got on scene. Probably about 2:00 or 3:00 p.m., that’s when the fire broke through on the other firewall and the other side of the building went up,” said Lauzon.

The band uses the lodge to display some of its culturally significant items for the public to see. Thankfully, the artifacts were able to be saved.

“I would like to thank people for their concern about the cultural and heritage artifacts that we had in there. Let everybody know they are quite safe, they weren’t touched. We lost the rooms, but where they were on display is still intact,” confirmed Tomma.

Tomma understands that many in the community may be nervous about losing the lodge as it employs many from the region and also brings in tourism dollars.

“The impact that this particular thing had on our community — devastating, not only for my band membership but to the community as a whole and the outlaying communities, because we employ a lot of people and bring in tourism,” stated Tomma.

The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing at this time with Fire Chief Lauzon expecting the investigation team to be onsite for a number of days to complete their work.