Devastation, sadness and heartbreak are widespread following a fire that destroyed the guest wing of Quaaout Lodge in Skwlax, Secw茅pemc territory, in the Thompson-Nicola region.

On the shores of Little Shuswap Lake, about 45 kilometres northwest of Salmon Arm, Quaaout Lodge & Spa at Talking Rock Resort is described by its social media as the pride of the Little Shuswap Lake Band.

鈥淏uilt to share the local history and culture of the Secwepemc people,鈥� is another descriptor.

Fire broke out in the early morning of Sunday, May 22.

鈥淭his has been a traumatic incident for everyone involved, from our guests to our employees and especially our community members,鈥� said James Tomma, Kukpi7 (Chief) of the Little Shuswap Lake Band (LSLB). 鈥淭hankfully, and most importantly, there were no fatalities or serious injuries.鈥�

He offered his personal thanks to firefighters and staff.

鈥淭o the Skwlax volunteer firefighters and the Chase Fire Department for their heroic efforts in responding to the fire, and also the staff at Quaaout Lodge who, without a second thought, ensured they got everyone safely out of harm鈥檚 way when the fire started.鈥�

Kukpi7 Tomma said an investigation of the fire鈥檚 causes and the extent of the damage is now underway. One thing is already certain, however. He said Quaaout Lodge will be rebuilt.

鈥淥ur focus right now is on the safety of our community, and doing what we can to support our guests and our employees,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut I can tell you we will rebuild. Quaaout Lodge is an important part of our community. It鈥檚 an engine of economic development, but also the cultural heart of the community.

鈥淨uaaout means 鈥榳hen the sun鈥檚 rays first touch the water,鈥� and there will be a new dawn for the lodge and for our community.鈥�

Our Lodge and Golf Course will be closed until further notice, and we will be providing more updates through our social media in the coming days.

Kukpi7 James Tomma will be providing an official statement tomorrow, May 23rd.

碍耻办蝉迟蝉茅尘肠
-The Quaaout Lodge and Talking Rock Team

鈥� Talking Rock Golf Course (@Talkingrockgolf)

Louis Thomas, a knowledge keeper with the Neskonlith band, said the fire has affected many people.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 deeply felt throughout the nation. A lot of our meetings were held out there. It鈥檚 kind of like an iconic building for our people. It鈥檚 one of the first endeavours for our people to get into economic development. They struggled with it, survived and made a go of it.鈥�

He added the loss is being felt by many non-Indigenous people as well.

At the North Shuswap Chamber of Commerce, Debbie Seymour, executive director, said along with the Little Shuswap Lake Band and the Quaaout team, the fire will affect tourism in the area.

鈥淚t鈥檚 impacted the community a great deal 鈥� it鈥檚 an important place for all of us out here. It鈥檚 a great facility, it鈥檚 a great place not only for our visitors but for our locals. Sometimes they stay there in the off season, or for the pool, lunch, golf 鈥� it鈥檚 a facility for everybody.

鈥淚t鈥檚 just sad. It鈥檚 very hard for many here.鈥�

She said she thinks businesses and the community will write letters of support for the band.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 important we let them know we鈥檙e thinking of them and we鈥檙e here to help. It鈥檚 important to respect their culture, and we鈥檙e aware of giving them time鈥�,鈥� she added.

She said she was at Quaaout last week and the parking lot was full. While that was good to see, the latest news wasn鈥檛.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a very, very sad, sad, sad situation.鈥�

Chase Fire Chief Brian Lauzon said the fire appeared to have started in the attic of the first section of the building, adjacent to the lobby. He said the complex has firewalls and firefighters thought they鈥檇 managed to save the second section of the lodge closest to the lake.

鈥淲e thought we had a good save there,鈥� he said.

However, in the afternoon, smoke started slowly coming through the vents and the plumbing stacks. 鈥淲e knew we lost that one.鈥�

Lauzon said he thinks the entranceway, the dining room, the kitchen, the lobby and the banquet rooms may still be intact. However, he added, the walls are now too unstable so it鈥檚 not safe to go inside.

He said the good news was that no one was hurt.

鈥淓veryone was accounted for, even the animals got out who were staying there,鈥� he said, adding he thinks the lodge was almost full.

Rushed out of our rooms and hotel at Quaaout Lodge this morning near Chase, BC. Fire has taken control of main hotel room section. RCMP still looking for 4 people who they think left in their cars.

鈥� 饾檯饾櫎饾櫄饾櫋 饾檱饾櫄饾櫕饾櫘 馃�� (@StedyPhoto)

LSLB said it is working with the appropriate agencies to provide support to displaced guests and employees. The resort will remain closed while the initial investigation is completed. Updates will be provided to the public as new information becomes available.

Quaaout Lodge (pronounced kwa-ow-oot) was first conceived in 1979, and opened in 1991. It has been updated and expanded over the years, including the addition of the Talking Rock Golf Course in 2007, a Top 20 PGA of Canada-rated course.

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