Homes, pub, museum, historic boardwalk among ruins of Telegraph Cove fire

Fire crews were called to a huge blaze in Telegraph Cove on Vancouver Island Tuesday morning, leaving parts of the resort community in smouldering ruins.

Port McNeill Fire Chief Dean Tait said the call came in at 5:27 a.m. and crews could see huge flames and smoke over the mountain as they drove to the fire.

“Multiple houses, multiple buildings, the museum, the restaurant, multiple,” he said about the extent of the damage, noting many of them were historic buildings.

2:02 Devastating fire destroys heritage buildings in Vancouver Island’s Telegraph Cove

In a statement, the Telegraph Cove Resort confirmed the fire destroyed a portion of the boardwalk, the Old Saltery Pub and Killer Whale Café, the Wastell Manor heritage house along with the beloved educational Whale Interpretive Centre, Prince of Whales offices and staff housing.

Everyone is asked to stay out of Telegraph Cove while crews are working.

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“It was fully involved,” Tait said when fire crews arrived. “And the distance for us to stretch out all our lines and get set up and stuff, it did take a while.”

He added that Telegraph Cove does not have its own fire hydrant system.

Along with Port McNeill, Alert Bay Fire Department, Hyde Creek Volunteer Fire Department and Port Hardy Fire Rescue responded to the fire.

0:28 Rare white orca spotted near Telegraph Creek

Telegraph Cove is a small community on northeastern Vancouver Island, located south of Port Hardy.

It is known for its whale-watching opportunities and eco-tourism.

The resort began as a campground and marina when Gordie and Marilyn Graham, long-time residents of the North Island, took ownership in 1979, according to details provided by the resort.

In the early 1980s, Telegraph Cove Resort was formally established and has been a cornerstone of the Telegraph Cove community, attracting visitors from across Canada and beyond.

“This resort isn’t just a business to us—it is our home, our history, and our legacy,” Gordie Graham, owner and founder of the resort said in a statement.

“My wife and I are nearing retirement. We are devastated to witness our life’s work, which I milled and built with my own hands, go up in flames.  While we are grateful that no one was harmed in the fire, we are experiencing one of our worst nightmares.”