The fire at the West Fraser Centre in Quesnel in September will cost taxpayers 25 thousand dollars.
That’s the deductible for the insurance claim that the Cariboo Regional District had to make.
Jeff Norburn, the Director of Community Services, went over the repairs that have to be made at last (Tuesday) night’s North Cariboo Joint Advisory Committee meeting.
“Repairs to the building are estimated to cost 71 thousand dollars. Repairs will include remediation to the effected walls, ceilings and insulation, replacement of fixtures including lights, toilet seats, hand dryers, stalls and paper towel dispensers, and anti-microbial treatments to enclosed spaces.”
Norburn says repairs are now underway.
He also said that the unexpected expenditure can be absorbed within the existing budget with the cost offset by other planned expenditures that are under budget.
Mayor Ron Paull wanted to know if replacing a torched paper dispenser with a paper dispenser was a good idea.
He suggested putting in a Dyson Airblade hand dryer, which is a little more fire proof than a roll of paper towel.
Norburn noted that “the insurance will just cover what was lost, and obviously putting in electrical powered hand dryers will cost more.”
He did commit to looking into it however.
Councillor Scott Elliott was obviously frustrated with the situation.
“This is out of control, this kind of stuff, in our community and I’m hoping that our deductible doesn’t go up any time soon. This is costing the residents a lot of money, 25 thousand dollars, but 71 thousand dollars in damage because somebody wants to come in there and light a fire, so I hope the individual is caught and I hope charges stick to this because it’s out-of-control and it’s costing everybody, and it’s dangerous too.”
There was an arrest in connection with the fire.
44-year old Jamie Harkley is charged with arson in relation to an inhabited property and is due back in court on Friday.
The fire was on Saturday, September 20th in the main lobby men’s washroom.
The fire was quickly extinguished by the sprinkler system and a fire extinguisher was used, but it resulted in significant damage and the closure of the building for a portion of the day.
