other snake pit essondale it the same gender burn and let the ghosts rest Major fire at Woodlands site
Infamous New Westminster school burns to the ground
Allison Cross, Vancouver Sun
Published: Wednesday, July 09, 2008
METRO VANCOUVER - A vacant New Westminster building complex that once housed an institution where employees mentally and sexually abused disabled residents was gutted by a massive fire Wednesday that is still burning.
Nearby residents watched in horror as the blaze that started at about 12:30 p.m. in the east wing of the former Woodlands institution near the corner of Royal Avenue and McBride Boulevard quickly spread throughout the connected buildings.
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A fire Wednesday burns through Woodlands, a former institution for the mentally handicapped in New Westminster.
Victims of Woodlands abuse not sorry to see buildings burn
Smoke billowed out of windows and bright orange flames tore through the structure's roof and released a massive cloud of black smoke into the sky.
Tracey Reader was working at home in her condo adjacent to Woodlands when she saw smoke and flames out her window.
"I ran up and down the hallways, banging on doors," she said, adding she could feel the fire's heat from across the street.
Reader said fire crews attended to three other minor fires in the building in the last week and regularly sees people climb the fence and access the building and steal copper wire.
"We all knew this was going to happen," she said. "It's a shame."
New Westminster fire fighters arrived on scene and quickly called for help from the department in Burnaby, said Const. Ivan Chu, spokesman for the New Westminster police department.
By 3 p.m., the roofs of at least three of the wings had collapsed and the complex was fully engulfed, and by 5 p.m., flames were still visible.
"It's a three-alarm blaze," Chu said. "They called out a lot of off-duty fire men."
The fire started in the east wing of the building and worked its way west, said New Westminster deputy fire chief, Jim Cook, but they don't know how it started.
"At this point we have no injuries and have no reason to believe anyone is in the building," he said. "We're trying to direct flames away from other buildings."
Fire fighters won't enter the building until the fire is out, he said, because it's too dangerous.
The smoke may be toxic, Cook said, because the building contained tar and asbestos.
The inside of the building was partially demolished, Cook said, making it easier for the flames to travel from room to room.
"I've been on the job 31 years [and] this is the biggest fire I've had to fight," he said.
He said crews were working on saving a portion of the south side of the complex, which is considered a heritage building.
Officials evacuated at least 150 people from three nearby apartment buildings because they were concerned about hot embers spreading the fire, he said.
"We will be here all night," Cook said. "Once we have the fire under control, we'll bring some machinery in and bring it down piece by piece."
Fire crews are working closely with Onni, the building's owner, he said.
across@png.canwest.com
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Two more fires raise security concerns
Theresa Mcmanus, The Record
Published: Wednesday, July 09, 2008
New Westminster Fire and Rescue Service has fought three fires at the Centre Block building at the former Woodlands site in less than a week.
Since last Wednesday's fire to the building, fire crews have attended two more fires in different parts of the building. The first fire caused about $100,000 in damage to the west wing of the Centre Block, while the July 7 fire resulted in damage to some rafters and the July 8 fire damaged the attic.
As the fires continue to be set, concern is growing about the potential for injuries. Cables dangle from the ceiling, and floors are rotting because of exposure to moisture through the years.
Checking it out: Above, firefighters look over the scene at the Centre Block building on the former Woodlands site July 7. At left, a firefighter enters the building.
Photo Larry Wright/THE RECORD
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"It is a huge hazard," said fire inspector Brent Joel. "The time is going to come pretty quick when we are not going to send our guys in there. We will fight it from the outside."
Vagrants have been breaking into the building, some sleeping in the Centre Block and others using it as a place to take and sort stolen goods. Joel recently saw a wok and briquettes in one part of the building, where someone had been cooking.
"Onni is making a huge effort to get this thing secured," Joel said.
"Onni goes through there every morning and chases the people out. They find one or two every time."
While touring the Centre Block, Joel noted that people have been trying to set fire to the paint that is peeling off the walls.
"They are lighting these things up. It could be toxic," he said of paint containing lead. "They are breathing this stuff. It could be deadly for them."
Lisa Spitale, director of development services, said city staff met with Onni on Monday to discuss some of the technical issues related to the Centre Block. Onni has been awaiting a report from its engineers about the building.
"Every time there is a fire it changes the dynamics of that building," she said. "We need to be cognizant of that."
From a heritage perspective, the city is waiting to hear from Onni's heritage consultant about the proposal to preserve two parts of the building - the original portion of the Centre Block and the tower.
The other issue is to develop a plan to move forward to deconstruct the remaining portion of the building.
"We are putting all that together and (will) be moving forward on a plan," Spitale said.
According to Spitale, the fires add a level of urgency to move forward as quickly as possible.
The city wants to ensure that no one is injured in the building and no firefighters are injured responding to fires at the site.
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