Large plumes of smoke were billowing high into the air Saturday morning in Port Coquitlam, B.C., due to a massive fire at Hazel Trembath Elementary School.
The fire has largely destroyed the elementary school which, according to 2022 statistics, is attended by roughly 215 students.
A nearby resident spoke with Global News at the scene early Saturday.
“My husband woke me up and said the school was on fire … devastating, obviously,” said Kim O’Neill, who is also a parent of a student at the school.
“The cloud of smoke (was) unreal and the flames were sky high. It’s a horrendous thing that has happened to our community.”
Coquitlam RCMP is investigating the fire and has deemed the blaze to be suspicious. The school has been deemed as a crime scene, according to the school district.
Saturday evening, Mounties issued a statement asking the public to avoid the area due to “potentially hazardous air quality” and the ongoing investigation.
We understand that students, staff, parents and neighbours may want to view the damage first-hand as they grieve the loss of the school,
said Cpl. Alexa Hodgins. The smoke and air quality is unsafe and only officials with appropriate personal protective equipment should be near the scene.
Police are also asking neighbouring residents to avoid going outdoors and close any windows and doors to limit their air exposure.
According to police, firefighters and police responded to the fire around 3:17 a.m. When they arrived, they found the school fully engulfed in aggressive flames.
The school was unoccupied at the time and there were no reported injuries.
“We are asking anyone who may have video surveillance in the area of Hazel Trembath Elementary School around the time of the fire, to contact our investigators,” said Hodgins.
“Police are also looking to speak with anyone who may have been in the area between the late evening of October 13, 2023, and the early morning of October 14, 2023.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Coquitlam RCMP at 604-945-1550.
Port Coquitlam Fire Deputy Chief Michael Patrick said early indicators show the fire may have started in the rear of the school on the exterior of the building. He said the fire was initially difficult to access due to the amount of locked security doors, and how the fire spread throughout the attic.
Patrick also said it is safe to say the entire school is a “total loss.”
Firefighters were still putting out hotspots, Saturday afternoon, nearly 12 hours after the first call came in.
School District 43’s Chair Michael Thomas said staff is already working to keep all the students together at a temporary location.
On Sunday, Thomas said the district is planning on moving everyone to an empty district facility.
“There are other schools nearby but they are also quite full,” he said.
“The good news is we do have a facility where we are able to transport all the students and keep them together, which was really important for us.
The temporary replacement school will be at the Winslow Centre.
Counselling will be available at the new site for both students and staff.