e ‘George estroyed f i become a familiar feature on the from the Oct. 10 fire, reported success. The Dritannia Beach McLaren Monday morning as Britannia Beach waterfront. smoke coming €rom somewhere Volunteer Fire Department was the fire continued to rage inside - Charles Lukas, who with his on the ship shortly after he had called to the fire at 3 p.m. the vessel. “We immediately he existence of the MV three children had been living turned on the ship’s generator “It wasn‘t fuiiy irivolved whcn ded in Squainish (Fire George, a second fire on the vessel for two weeks, just before 3 p.m: Sunday. we arrived on the scene,” Rescue). It was mostly smoke. through the vessel said an electrician working on Lukas said they looked for the Britannia Beach Volunteer Fire The fire seemed to be confined ay, destroying what has solving problems which arose source of the smoke without Department chief George to an area that we couldn’t get to. We could not get to the ini- tial area to attack and knock it (the fire) down.” McLaren said Sunday’s fire appears to have started mid- ship on the middle deck but the exact location of its origin is not yet known. He said after sever- al hours of trying to get it under control, fire fighting efforts changed from that of saving some of the contcnts of the ship to ensuring the safety of the people fighting the fire and pre- venting disastrous cnvironmen- tal damage. More than 30 fire fighters and several pumper trucks from Britannia and Squaniish were involved. “It was unknown how n3uch propane and fuel was on board,” McLaren said, adding that reports varied on the tot;rI volumes. ‘ “It is still unconfirmed how much fuel is on the ship but I don‘t think it is as much as we originally thought.” As of Monday morning, the ship’s fuel tank hadn‘t caught fire and McLaren said his crews‘ efforts were focusing on cooling down the vesscl and trying to prevent the fire from e Claims Historic Vessel - A familiar landmark to everyone driving Hwy. 99 in the last few years was destroyed by fire Sunday. Fire spreading to the fuel tanks. hters from Britannia and Squamish responded to the call which came in at about 3 Pam.,but intense heat and difficulty getting access The cOI,cern of he source of the fire hampered their attempts, which carried on well into Monday morning. Ross Wahlphoto fire Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard once the fire had settled down Monday was the possibility of the ship sinking or ief to beproclaime a park to capsizing. Fire fighters at that point had abandoned efforts to put out the fire because they did Public ceremony to take place at the Pavilion at 11 a.m not want water to accumulate Please turn to Page 2 of paintings opens at Canadian finals THE SQUAMISH CHIEF I, -2 I OCTOBER 17,1995 mws ROWA. BADp6lE Certgied Gemologist G Goldsmith, Des&ner G Appraiser i I J 9 A&B GEM JEWELLERS LTD. * CHIEFTAIN CENTRE 892-3002 SERVICES No Jab Too Small 5 YARD DUMP TRUCK SWEEPER e . BACKHOE GRAPPLE BUCKET ’ Preliminary Landscaping Top Soil Sand ti Gravel Bark Mulch & Nuggets FREE ESTIMATES - RADIO DISPATCHED CALL ROB LEMCKE - 892-9575 COMMERCIAL ’ CONTRACTORS attimpt to save the MV Prince George, which caught fire Sunday afternoon. By late Monday mornid resei b the fire had burned throughout the vessel, destroying all the possessions of resident food servicr earel Relocated to Squamish director Charles Lukas and his three children. Ross Wahl photo tion: from Vancouver in 1994. roos Quality Roof@ ELECTMCLTD. For 25 Years Family loses everythin Repairs Reroof New Was FREE EST’IMATES Squamish 898-4661 892-5582 2020 Paco Rd., Saudsh in Prince Gedrge fire - Th Squamish Credit Union creates trust fund fo h By Patricia Heinkman second fire broke out Sunday. ~ He said his family was evacuated from Two weeks ago, Charles Lukas and his three when Sunday’s fire broke out at aroun children moved into their new home, the MV and was told he could not go back on Prince George. Lukas had just been hired by retrieve some of his family’s possession Chris Wilson, the principal investor in the cruise ing their pet cat. Lukas said he finally ship moored in Britannia Beach, as director of onto the ship against fire rescue’s ord food services. Wilson had plans to use the ship as the cat but could not locate her. a bed and breakfast and a place to rent for parties. By Monday morning, it was eviden Two weeks later, everything Lukas, a single munity was rallying behind the Lu father, owned is gone in a fire that tore through plight, said victim services coordinator Ka the ship Sunday. Lamoureux. “I lost $80,000 in that fire,” Lukas said Monday. Super Valu donated several hun “I lost all my restaurant equipment, all our worth of groceries, including the all imp clothes, the kids toys, everything we own, all of diapers for Lukas’ eight-month-01 our memories. I even lost the birthday present I Squamish Credit Union has also set up a t just bought my son for his second birthday which account for the family members to is in 10 days. We had taken over 10 staterooms in back on their feet. the ship with all our stuff. And now it’s all gone.” “The community needs to pull together to Lukas, who moved to the area Oct. 1 from this family,” says Lamoureux. “We need t Vancouver Island, was in the process of moving people know there is a real need here. H his family back into the Prince George after being there are some big heart out there in the c 898-3032! Garlbaldi Highlands Ma displaced by a €ire on the ship Tuesday, when the nity.” RACE & Ship’s stability a major concerlz1L.L COMPANY Corttinited from Page 3 Wilson of Lindbergh Tuesday fire was out.” Investments - the company to shortly after 4 p.m. in The coast guard was on the which the ship is in receivership cers‘ quarters near th DOUGLAS B, CHIASSON scene a €ew hours after the fire to - said he does not know the the ship. At the time Divorce Trial Lawyer started. A containment boom future of the vessel. It has been the occupants of the s was. placed around the ship to up for sale for several years for the exception of Lu kas prevent any dispersal of fuel $1.5-$2 million. children, were crews di from the ship. “It’s been a disastrous day” indirectly involved “Right now we’re concerned Wilson said Monday, ”I have Courageous Films Inc Contested and Uncontested Divorces with the stability of the ship and absolutely zero first-hand were shooting a t Child Custody and Access the safety of the people working knowledge of the fire.” movie o€the week on t around it,” said Don Rodden, Wilson said he was hoping to George last week. Separation Agreements supervisor of environmental talk to the fire marshal’s office Wilson said the film Child and Spousal Maintenance response for the coast guard. “If later that day to see if he could were involved in pre it does capsize or sink we’ll get any answers. Tuesday in the area of Cohabitarion and Marriage Agreements have a far greater problem on Regional fire commissioner and as far as he knew, Property Division our hands.” Vic Friesen said the exact cause company had ins Rodden said he thought it of both Prince George fires had cover the damage sustai unlikely that the ship would not been determined and the the first fire. Restoration Whistler S qu a mis h sink but that it was still a possi- investigation into Sunday’s fire had already begun on th 332-4370 Lorinier Road 201-1365 Pemberton Ave. bility. will probably take quite a while ted officers’ quarters 932-32 11 892-5254/932-6938 Principal investor Christopher to complete. Sunday’s fire broke out. ....-- .-....-. .’. .. .......-a E - I THE SQUAMISN CHIEF OCTOBER 17, 1995 I 3 NEWS TIPS? CALl US (604) 892-9161 111 E-MAIL: SQCHIfF@MOUNTA/N-/NTR.NE~OR FAX (604) 892-8483 Logging cut start of a trend Industrial Way traffic light By Ron Eruls also be a further temporary AAC waits for next fiscal year reduction set by Kuster, who is A 13 per cent reduction in the authorized to do so under the Forest Traffic lights will not be placed on Hwy.99 at amount of timber to be harvested in Act, if pending land-use decisions Industrial Way in time for the ski season. “lie the So0 timber supply area (TSA) regarding protected areas and spot- Ministry of Transportati0.n and Highways beginning in 2996, as announced by ted owl habitat are not made quickly. (MOTH)has said the lights will not go until the province’s chief forester “We’re fooling ourselves if we think the next fiscal year, which begins April 1. Wednesday, could soon be followed we‘re logging in an operable land The district has been seeking to have the by further reductions in the allow- base and we‘re not. I have held off lights installed before winter - and the heavy able annual cut (AAC). until now and I’ll hold off a while in traffic generated by Whistler skiers -to allow Paul Kuster, district manager of the .- hopes spotted owl and parks deci- Squamish Forest District, said at a AAC Of sions are made.