The unmistakable smell of smoke and burnt plastic lingers near the charred remains of a trailer at Thetis Lake Campground and Trailer Park.
The trailer went up in flames July 2, with nearly two dozen firefighters from the View Royal and Colwood fire departments battling the blaze. West Shore RCMP has deemed the incident B次元官网网址渟uspiciousB次元官网网址� and continues to investigate the fire, which forced the evacuation of 10 nearby mobile homes, although the fire did not spread to any surrounding structures.
Eric Gieringer, site manager for the facility, said efforts have been made to clean up the trailer park, which has seen six residents evicted since the fall, the last being the owner of the trailer involved in the fire.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 a hoarder,B次元官网网址� said Gieringer, adding that the man was B次元官网网址渃ollecting more and more garbage and then we had to deal with him.B次元官网网址� They started the eviction process in the spring and gave the man about two and a half months to leave.
The resident spent June removing some items from the trailer, and park operators believed he was preparing to move, Gieringer said. The man was seen there the day of the fire, but it was believed he had left before the fire started.
B次元官网网址淎n hour or so later the trailer blew up,B次元官网网址� Gieringer said, adding that no one saw the man on scene when the fire started. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an odd coincidence.B次元官网网址�
View Royal Fire Chief Paul Hurst said crew members fighting the fire last week were concerned with the fact three or four mobile homes were situated within 10 to 15 feet of the blaze, and vented gas from propane tanks stored inside and around the trailer was causing the fire to spread.
The presence of the propane tanks also made for a difficult and dangerous situation for firefighters. Hurst, noting he was concerned for their safety, said it was B次元官网网址渇ar too dangerous to enter the trailer without knocking down (the fire) from a distance.B次元官网网址�
Gieringer acknowledged residentsB次元官网网址� fears that night as well.
B次元官网网址淧eople here were scared out of their minds,B次元官网网址� he said, noting they were all amazed the propane tanks didnB次元官网网址檛 blow. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 no way that was an accident.B次元官网网址�
West Shore RCMP spokesman Const. Alex Berube was unable to disclose details of the investigation, but said police were awaiting the fire investigation report.
B次元官网网址淥ur major crime unit is taking over that investigation,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l see what the investigation will show and take appropriate actions.B次元官网网址�
In the meantime, the trailer site is considered a crime scene. Gieringer admits it will be a long road ahead before the tape can come down, the site can be cleared and they can move on.
katie@goldstreamgazette.com
