A building that was used as a kitchen, dining hall, and chapel at the Dauphin Bible Camp is no more.
A fire burned down the old main lodge at the camp yesterday. Fire Chief Cam Abrey says it was electrical in nature, and originated in the boy's bathroom.
"The building itself is approximately 41 years old and due to the construction style at the time -- you know, we had open trusses, it was an open-air space -- the fire spread rapidly from the bathroom area," says Abrey.
Abrey says given the distance to the camp, it was 13 minutes after receiving the call that the first fire truck arrived on scene, and the fire was well involved by then.
He credits staff, volunteers, and neighbours of the camp for their "phenomenal" effort.
"It was just such a flawless operation on their side, how they had everybody evacuated... most people in a fire situation, there's panic," says Abrey.
Wayne Eisbrenner, Manitoba Field Director with One Hope Canada, says they have ended camp for this week and are hoping to start up again next week.
"I'm very hopeful that we'll be able to run our next camp, which I think is eight days from now. I have every confidence... provided we can get occupancy permits for our new building," says Eisbrenner.
A new lodge was recently finished at the camp. It will house the kitchen and the dining room, but will not have a chapel.
