On the same day that Chances Gaming Centre launched its job search for staff for the new gaming centre, the Prince Rupert RCMP and Fire Department were continuing their investigations into the fire of Monday morning at the First Avenue West site.
As workers cleaned up the site and assessed the damage, Chances placed ads in both the Northern View and the Daily News seeking out help in a number of aspects of the Gaming industry soon to set up shop in Prince Rupert.
As for the fire, The Daily News had more details on developments and the reaction of officials from Chances regarding the early morning fires.
Gaming centre hit by arsonists
By Christian Webber
The Daily News
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Page one
Firefighters quickly doused several small fires at the site of the new community gaming centre early Monday and police immediately began probing what is thought to be a case of arson.
The fire department responded at 2:40 a.m. on what happened to be the first night that the casino was locked.
The structure of the building was not compromised and the cost of the damage is not currently known.
The suspected arsonists are believed to have entered the building through third-floor windows. They set several fires on the main level.
There are no suspects or witnesses.
It is believed that there was no intent to burn the building down, but the case is still under investigation. RCMP Ident members have taken photographs and looked for finger prints.
A room contained wires and cables that were burned, but most of the damage involved the destruction of other supplies such as insulation.
Almost all of the insulation was burned and the ceiling was damaged from fire and smoke.
"We have no estimate on the cost but there was very little if nothing on structural damage," said the Prince Rupert Fire Chief, Ron Miller.
He said they found heavy smoke showing from the right hand side of the building and gained entry to the lower level to extinguish a fire there.
"We extinguished the fire fairly quickly but there was a fair amount of smoke in the building, so we had to evacuate the smoke, check for hot spots and continue the investigation," said Miller. Firefighters were on scene for three hours.
"Who knows what the intent was but they were definitely intentionally set fires," said Miller.
One of the clean-up workers marvelled at how someone got in, set a fire and got out before the first responders arrived.
"Somebody doesn't want this casino to happen," he said.
"If anybody has any information in regards to the fire, we would be very happy if they could contact the RCMP," said Miller.
Craig Briere, president and CEO of Chances Prince Rupert, said the fire will in no way delay the opening of the Chances Prince Rupert Community Gaming Centre.
Briere said there were no estimates as yet as to the cost of the damage done.
The fire is a "minor setback and will not delay the opening of the facility," said Briere.
He said security will be stepped up at the construction site.
The gaming centre is set to open in September.
The centre, with a full restaurant, lounge, patio, and 125 slot machines is expected to become a major local tourism draw.
The facility will include electronic bingo, keno, off-track horse racing and eventually more than 10,000 square feet of convention space and represents an investment of more than $13 million in Prince Rupert, said Briere.
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