Fire Impacts Neighbours
By 250 News
Tuesday, August 19, 2008 11:00 AM
Shot shows crews fighting Columbus Hotel from Second Avenue on the left, and Third Avenue on the right. Photo by Opinion250 reader who will now receive a cheque for submission of this photo.
Prince George, B.C.- Northern Health is ckecking in to the impact of the smoke from this morning's fire at the Columbus Hotel in downtown Prince George.At this time, air quality values are low, with 24 hour PM10 values of 22ug/m3 at the Plaza 400 site, and 24 hour PM2.5 values of 5 ug/m3 as of 08:00 in the downtown monitoring sites.
Those residents most sensitive to smoke - such as children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing lung and heart disease - should avoid the downtown area. In general, all residents should try to avoid the areas where there is a smell of smoke.
It is far too early to suggest a cause for this morning’s devastating fire at the Columbus Hotel.
Fire Chief Jeff Rowland says the exterior of the Columbus is fine, but the interior has been gutted,
Rowland won’t say if the fire is under control but would say “it isn’t going anywhere.”
Firefighters from all four fire halls were on scene at the Third Avenue hotel this morning, some crews have since returned to their halls to be refitted and get fresh fire fighters.
The Columbus did not have a sprinkler system and Rowland says the fire was concentrated in the second and third floors.
There is still one person unaccounted for, while one other resident is in critical condition and has been transferred to Vancouver General Hospital’s burn unit. Two other people were treated for smoke inhalation and released.
Barbara Croome, of the Salvation Army is on site, and says the Sally Anne is there to help any of the hotel residents who need clothing, water, coffee or advice on alternative housing. The Columbus was a permanent home for about 10 people.
The morning fire has had an impact on a number of businesses in the area. Because of smoke, the officer for the Hospital Employees Union is closed for the day. Workers cannot get vehicle access to the businesses in the block from Quebec to Dominion on Third Avenue. City Furniture has a “Closed” sign in the window, Northern Hardware is open, the Oxford building at the corner of Third and Victoria had some smoke issues this morning, but then the vents were closed. The upper floors are now clear of smoke, but there is still a detectable whiff on the lower floors.
In the HSBC building, Northern Health took it upon themselves to tell its staff to locate to other offices or head home if they can work at home, the building though is fine.
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Posted by: Diesel on August 19 2008 1:20 PM