A vacant building in Trail’s Gulch neighbourhood caught fire for the second time in two years this morning.
Kootenay Boundary Regional Fire Rescue Chief Dan Derby told Vista Radio that the fire, which is considered suspicious, occurred in the 500 block of Rossland Avenue near the bottle depot. The building was boarded up following a previous fire in 2024.
Crews were called at about 6:30 a.m. Thirteen firefighters responded from Trail and Rossland.
“Firefighters immediately established scene control and then initiated fire suppression operations,” Derby said. “Crews conducted an aggressive fire attack and successfully brought the fire under control and prevented further extension to the surrounding buildings.”
There were no injuries but Derby said damage was “significant.” He said the building was confirmed to be vacant at the time of the incident. The fire is considered suspicious. RCMP and firefighters are investigating.
The building is not easily visible from Rossland Avenue, as it is behind another building. Derby said while they couldn’t get immediate curbside access, local crews are familiar with the community’s unique challenges.
Another suspicious fire last week caused substantial damage to the Community Inclusion Centre on Bay Avenue. It came on the heels of two other fires, including one that claimed the life of a man at the La Nina shelter, and another in an Annable apartment building that was believed to have been drug-related.
