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One man dead after fire in Campbell River cabin

A man has died after a fire at his Campbell River cabin on Wednesday morning. About 20 firefighters responded to the fire at the Glen Alder RV Park at 4142 South Island Hwy.
Fire at Campbell River RV park
One man died in a fire near Campbell River on Feb. 7, 2018.

A man has died after a fire at his Campbell River cabin on Wednesday morning.

About 20 firefighters responded to the fire at the Glen Alder RV Park at 4142 South Island Hwy.

Saje Kurpiela, whose parents own the park, had just arrived when a man knocked on the door reporting a blaze in Cabin No. 2. Her mother called 911.

The single-storey wooden cabin was in flames, the windows already melting, Kurpiela said.

“The flames were too big [to enter],” she said.

Her father, whom she called, advised throwing a rock through the window to determine whether the occupant was alive and able to get out.

There was no response from inside, Kurpiela said, but there was also no doubt in her mind that the man, in his late 60s or early 70s, was in there.

“Because he does everything by truck and his truck was there — he doesn’t walk anywhere,” she said, adding that the man used a cane.

Firefighters found a body inside.

The B.C. Coroners Service is investigating.

The man’s name has not been released, but Kurpiela said his name was Gord. “He was quiet and kept to himself,” she said, adding that he had a brother in Campbell River.

She said he had a routine on Mondays and Wednesdays of driving to get his mail and going into town. Other than that, he didn’t go out much, Kurpiela said.

There are 29 trailers and four cabins on the property. The owners have a home in the middle of the park.

No one else was hurt and no other structure was damaged.

ceharnett@timescolonist.com