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Spruston Rd. house burns down after RDN pays $90K to clean it

Mar 8, 2018 | 8:20 AM

NANAIMO — A Spruston Rd. house, which was the messiest property ever seen by RDN staff, burned to the ground Wednesday night. 

North Cedar fire chief Percy Tipping told NanaimoNewsNOW the fire broke out around 11 p.m. Wednesday night. They were called in to assist the Cranberry Volunteer Fire Department since the entire house was fully-involved. 

Tipping said to his knowledge the house was abandoned, boarded up and the power was cut off at the time of the fire. 

The property was clear of mess after the Regional District spent roughly $90,000 cleaning the property of debris and trash accumulated over years. Thirty-three bins of debris was taken earlier this year in the costliest cleanup the RDN had ever undertaken. 

To cover the cost of the cleanup, the RDN billed the property owners and if the money wasn’t paid, it would then become a tax on the property. 

Tipping said he was thankful the mess was cleaned up and he couldn’t fathom how difficult of a blaze it would be to fight if the debris remained. 

Ladysmith RCMP is investigating the blaze.

This is the sixth major fire in recent weeks, including several houses, a motor home and a trailer filled with carpets. The motor home fire was deemed accidental by Nanaimo Fire Rescue.  

 

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