Whitehorse ski club plans to rebuild after 'intentionally set fire' destroys hut
The fire that destroyed a popular Whitehorse ski hut on Thursday appears to have been "intentionally set," says the Whitehorse Fire Department.
"Some kids had been seen in the area or leaving the area so at this point it is suspicious. There's no other sources of potential fire there," said Whitehorse Fire Department platoon chief Don McKnight.
The RCMP are investigating reports from witnesses that three to five young people, between the ages of eight and 12, were spotted at the scene. They're asking anyone with information to call the Whitehorse detachment.
"It was just a good thing that it was fall time and wasn't summer, it could have been a very dangerous situation had it been summer and the forests dry," added McKnight.
According to Jan Polivka, Operations Manager of the Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club, Harvey's Hut went up in flames on Thursday afternoon.
He said somebody was walking the trails when they spotted the fire — they reportedly called 911, but firefighters could not get there in time.
The small wooden warming hut, about three kilometres from the waxroom on Mount McIntyre trail system, was a popular destination for 35 years, said Polivka. It was one of the area's best-used huts because it was the easiest for younger and casual skiers to get to.
"The hut has some significance to a lot of people… A lot of memories over 35 years, for sure," said Polivka.
'Oh I was angry'
Mountain biker and skier Dan Reimer was riding on the Porcupine Ridge Trail when he came across the "smouldering remains" on Thursday evening.
"It was gone, gone, completely burned to the ground," he said.
"Oh I was angry, right away," he added. "It's just such a well used cabin and year-round too right… probably one of the best used cabins in the Yukon."
"We've celebrated people's birthdays out there to family days. I remember coaching kids and bringing them out there and building a fire and bringing them back, I do that with the women's groups I coach too."
"For sure it's got to be replaced — it's in one of the most spectacular spots too."
Plans to rebuild
"Of course now we're weighing all our options," said Bill Curtis, president of the Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club.
"We are definitely going to rebuild... so now we want to investigate what our best options are and make it less subject to fire."
Curtis said it's unlikely a new hut will be built in time for the upcoming ski season, but there will be some type of temporary structure for this winter.
The ski club has started a gofundme campaign to raise money for the reconstruction. Meanwhile, other community members are already pitching in to help.
"Within a few minutes we decided that Coast Mountain should kickstart something," said Mary-Jane Warshawski of Coast Mountain Sports, "so we put $1,000 into a pot that will go directly to the cross country ski club."
She's also working with Air North on a travel package that will be raffled off in the weeks to come.
The hut was named after Bruce Harvey, a dedicated helper on the ski trails.
