There has been another fire at the property at the corner of Yew Street and 7th Avenue.
The location has been the site of three separate fires in the last nine months.
The first fire occurred on June 5, 2020 and completely destroyed the house on the property as well as the house next door. The cause of the first fire was ruled to be arson and a suspect was arrested and charged.
The second fire happened on Nov. 15, 2020. It destroyed a shed on the property. Castlegar Fire Department (CFD) Chief Sam Lattanzio believes that fire started in a wood burning stove or chimney.
The latest fire happened on Feb. 27, 2021.
CFD was called to a report of a trailer fire on the property. The fire was extinguished by the time CFD arrived, but there was damage to the electrical and propane systems and the front section of the trailer.
Lattanzio says it is suspected that the fire originated in the battery charging system of the trailer in use at the time of the incident.
CFD also responded to a burning complaint at the property back in the fall of 2020. Lattanzio says that wasn’t the first time the department had responded to burning complaints at the location. There were a number of burning complaints at the property prior to the June arson fire.
The property has become a frustration to the neighbourhood and several residents of the area spoke about their concerns to city council during question period at the March 1 council meeting.
Castlegar’s chief administrative officer Chris Barlow agreed to meet with the neighbours to see how the city may help with resolving the problem.
Castlegar RCMP Sgt. Monty Taylor said local police are also aware of the situation.
betsy.kline@castlegarnews.comLike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
