Almost four months have passed since a fire in the referee’s room forced the closure of the Kitimat Ice Rink, and the timeline for repairs and reopening is still uncertain.
The District of Kitimat recently released a statement acknowledging the slow progress. “It's definitely not out of mind, but unfortunately there's not much to update just yet,” the statement read. The District is currently working with its insurance provider to gather and provide all requested documentation on the building to support its claim. “We’re hopeful there will be direction in the near future for how repairs can proceed at the facility,” the statement continued.
The fire began in the early morning hours of March 17 inside the facility’s referee’s room, located close to the main entrance. Preliminary investigations suggest a malfunctioning wall-mounted heater in the Referee’s Room could have sparked the blaze, however this theory is being thoroughly vetted with insurance investigators. The fire resulted in extensive fire damage to the referee’s room and smoke damage throughout the rest of the building.
The fire was promptly extinguished by Kitimat firefighters, and there were no reported injuries.
Due to safety concerns, all programs were cancelled for the remainder of the season. The Leisure Services department has worked with local user groups to adjust schedules, a practice that will continue into the start of the next ice season.
As the District continues to navigate the insurance process and determine the next steps for repairs, the community remains in limbo, awaiting the reopening of a beloved local facility.
