RCMP confirm fire at Port Coquitlam elementary school human caused

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Coquitlam RCMP on Friday confirmed a fire that broke out at an elementary school in Port Coquitlam in October was human caused and issued a plea for those responsible to come forward.

Investigators are asking for anyone with information — no matter how small — about the fire that broke out shortly after 3 a.m. on Oct. 14 at Hazel Trembath Elementary School to call Coquitlam RCMP.

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At the time, RCMP said the fire at one of the last Port Coquitlam schools without a sprinkler system was considered suspicious.

In a news release Friday, RCMP did not call the investigation arson but said it was human caused.

“We understand that the loss of the school has had tremendous impact on the entire community and police continue to actively pursue this complex investigation,” said Insp. Darren Carr, acting officer in charge of Coquitlam RCMP.

“We want to thank everyone who has already spoken to or provided video to our investigators, but we believe that those responsible still have a story to tell,” he said.

When firefighters arrived at the school, located at 1278 Confederation Drive, it was already engulfed in flames. No one was in the building at the time, and there were no reports of injuries.

The more than 200 students that attended the public school had to be relocated to another school.

Anyone who may have information is asked to contact the Coquitlam RCMP at 604-945-1550.

ticrawford@postmedia.com

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