Fire damages Hornby Island Community School before start of school year

The B.C. school district responsible for the community school on Hornby Island says it's working to determine a plan for the start of the school year after a fire burned at least one third of the school early Sunday.

Firefighters fromHornby Island Fire Rescue and Denman Island Fire Rescue battled the blaze for 12 hours at the Hornby Island Community School.

The fire began sometime after 2 a.m. PT anddestroyed the front part of the building. Themiddle section suffered fire and smoke damage and the back of the building has moderate smoke damage.

"The Board of Education is shocked and saddened that oneweek prior to the start of the new school year at the news of a devastating fire that has damagedthe Hornby Island Community School," said Comox Valley school district chair Janice Caton in a release.

Hornby Island lies just off the east coast of Vancouver Island,around 100 kilometres northwest of Nanaimo.

HornbyIsland's volunteer fire service used all five of its trucks and 16 firefighters to battle the blaze.

Lots of help

It also asked for help from firefighters from nearby DenmanIsland. BC Ferries activated one of its ferries to go from HornbyIsland to DenmanIsland around 4:30 a.m. and pick up seven more firefighters plus two trucks from the Denman Island Fire and Rescue.

Hornby Island fire chief, Doug Chinnery saidwork on the fire was acommunity effort.

Several groups provided assistance including DenmanIsland firefighters, BC Ferries, BC Ambulance and a contractor on the island, Chinnery said.

'Community support incredible'

Local residentsare dismayed about the damage, but thankful for everyone who worked to keep the school from completely being destroyed.

"My childhood elementary school just burned," wrote Brittany Jenna Andrews in a Facebook post.

Chinnery says residents broughtfood at the fire hall, which is down the road from the school.

"People just bringing by fresh baked cookies and all sorts of food has come here," he said."The community support has been absolutely incredible.

Chinnery says he does not know how the fire started. Investigators from Courtenay and the RCMP are expected on Monday.

Meanwhile the school board says it will determinea plan for the school year.

Canton said all updates will be posted on the district and school websites.