Summerland fire lights up issues at RV Park

A recent fire that destroyed three homes in Summerland has smoked out some big issues in their neighbourhood.

The owners of Summerland Beach RV Park, formerly known as the Illahie Campground, have been given until the end of June to upgrade the facility’s electrical system.

Illegal wiring at the campground came to light when provincial electrical inspectors came to investigate during the fire. Power has already been pulled from several RV’s because renovations included wiring that did not meet Canadian safety standards. The tenants now have had to find other places to stay. While the B.C. Safety Authority’s log is on the notices posted on the RV’s, it’s not known who posted the notices.

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Residents were given copies of the B.C. Safety Authority report after the fire of May 14, which states the facility’s 25 year old electrical system is not built to code. Wiring has not been upgraded since the campground opened in 1986, according to residents who have been living in the park almost 20 years.

To long term tenant Jim Donnelly, the report means the electrical problems in the RV Park and former campground belong to the owners of the facility, not the owners of the RV’s.

“It’s their problem,” said Donnelly.

Summerland Beach manager Ken Pachkowsky did not want to comment on the issues but confirmed the B.C. Safety Authority is investigating.

While many residents say the park owners, an unidentified development company, may use the electrical issue to shut down the facility, Pachkowsky told CHBC News, “No,” they won’t.

The illegal wiring issue came to light when the fire department started to investigate the fires that destroyed three RV’s in the park. While the blaze has been deemed undetermined, fire inspectors believe it was sparked near the kitchen of one RV, but don’t know if it started on the inside or outside.

A B.C. Safety Authority spokesperson told CHBC News they are now waiting for Summerland Beach to upgrade the system and have been told a contractor has been hired to assess the changes.