‘Purposeful’ blaze destroys provincial courthouse in Golden, B.C., firefighter hurt

Fire swept through the courthouse in the town of Golden in southeastern British Columbia, injuring one firefighter battling the flames early Monday.

Golden Fire Department Deputy Chief Rob Perry offered few details but confirmed the injury and said the firefighter was treated in hospital.

RCMP Cpl. James Grandy said the alarms were reported in the Golden Law Courts and Service B.C. building at around 3:30 a.m.

He said “early observations point to it as a purposeful arson.”

Flames were still shooting from the single-storey building more than five hours after volunteer firefighters first arrived.

Fire Chief Mike Pecora said the building, which houses the town’s provincial court, will likely be a “total loss.”

“The fire had been going for quite some time because the the front wall was ready to actually fall in,” he explained. “That place could have been burning for hours before someone drove by.”

Perry adds crews were using ladders to pour water on the top of the building.

“The roof has collapsed, so the fire is underneath that,” he said.

Perry says he wind was moving in the opposite direction as well.

Access to the Golden and District Hospital, which neighbours the courthouse, was difficult at the height of the blaze because hoses were blocking the street and water was pooling at the front of the building, but the hospital remained open.

Perry, who is an arson investigation technician, said he will be working with RCMP investigators to determine what caused the fire.

In a statement Monday, Golden RCMP says “early observations point to it as being a purposeful arson.”

Pecora adds The Golden Fire Department had three trucks and 21 members at the fire within 20 minutes.

As of Monday afternoon, Pecora says the fire was put out and firefighters have “been told to close up shop.”

Provincial court was not in session Monday, but cases were scheduled for later this week.

Perry said court staff are “trying to sort out” next steps.