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.

害羞草研究所淏uilt to share the local history and culture of the Secwepemc people,害羞草研究所� is another descriptor.

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

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

He offered his personal thanks to firefighters and staff.

害羞草研究所淭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害羞草研究所檚 way when the fire started.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淥ur focus right now is on the safety of our community, and doing what we can to support our guests and our employees,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淏ut I can tell you we will rebuild. Quaaout Lodge is an important part of our community. It害羞草研究所檚 an engine of economic development, but also the cultural heart of the community.

害羞草研究所淨uaaout means 害羞草研究所榳hen the sun害羞草研究所檚 rays first touch the water,害羞草研究所� and there will be a new dawn for the lodge and for our community.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所� Talking Rock Golf Course (@Talkingrockgolf)

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

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

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.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 impacted the community a great deal 害羞草研究所� it害羞草研究所檚 an important place for all of us out here. It害羞草研究所檚 a great facility, it害羞草研究所檚 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 害羞草研究所� it害羞草研究所檚 a facility for everybody.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 just sad. It害羞草研究所檚 very hard for many here.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淚 think it害羞草研究所檚 important we let them know we害羞草研究所檙e thinking of them and we害羞草研究所檙e here to help. It害羞草研究所檚 important to respect their culture, and we害羞草研究所檙e aware of giving them time害羞草研究所�,害羞草研究所� 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害羞草研究所檛.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a very, very sad, sad, sad situation.害羞草研究所�

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害羞草研究所檇 managed to save the second section of the lodge closest to the lake.

害羞草研究所淲e thought we had a good save there,害羞草研究所� he said.

However, in the afternoon, smoke started slowly coming through the vents and the plumbing stacks. 害羞草研究所淲e knew we lost that one.害羞草研究所�

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害羞草研究所檚 not safe to go inside.

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

害羞草研究所淓veryone was accounted for, even the animals got out who were staying there,害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所� 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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