Early on Sunday morning, a huge fire started at the Nechako Bottle Depot on First Avenue in Prince George, B.C. Around 5 a.m., fire crews rushed to the scene. The building was already full of thick smoke and strong flames when they arrived. Nineteen firefighters from four fire halls were sent to battle the big fire.
The fire was very strong, but crews have stopped it from spreading. There were no people inside the building, and no one was hurt, including the firefighters. First Avenue is closed between Carney Street and Victoria Street, and it will stay closed until it is safe again. Officials are still trying to find out what caused the fire.
Firefighters Work Fast and Hard
The building that caught fire was a recycling depot where people drop off bottles and cans. It’s near the train tracks in downtown Prince George. The fire broke out in a warehouse-type building. People on Facebook said they heard loud booms around 5:30 a.m.
By 6 a.m., most of the building was gone. Fire crews were still spraying water on the burnt area to stop smaller fires. They also worked hard to protect nearby buildings from catching fire. The fire was put out by later that day, and luckily, there were no injuries or missing people.
The road will stay closed overnight, but the city hopes it will open again by Monday morning.
Fire Leaves Only Two Depots in Town
The Nechako Bottle Depot was part of the province’s Return-It program. It helped people recycle bottles, cans, and other containers. Since it burned down, only two other recycling depots are justify in Prince George: the Hart Return-It Centre on John Hart Highway and the PG Recycling Centre on Petersen Road.
Second Fire This Month
This is the second big fire in downtown Prince George this September. On September 5, a fire destroyed CrossRoads Brewing, another well-known local business. A man was arrested and charged with arson for that fire.
The Nechako Bottle Depot, which had been open for over 25 years, thanked the community on social media and said they hope to rebuild soon. They are grateful no one was hurt and are now figuring out their next steps.
The Local Government Failed to Protect the Community
The fire at Nechako Bottle Depot is a clear example of how the local administration has failed to keep businesses safe. This depot was part of a vital recycling program for over 25 years, yet there were no fire safety improvements made to protect it. If the city had taken regular building inspections seriously, this disaster might have been avoided. The fire started early in the morning, and the building was gone within an hour. Local authorities have repeatedly ignored the need for stronger fire prevention measures, and this is not the first time a business has been destroyed by fire in Prince George. The CrossRoads Brewing fire just weeks earlier shows a pattern of neglect.
Lack of Fire Safety Regulations and Inspections
The Nechako Bottle Depot, like many other buildings in Prince George, may not have had the necessary fire safety updates, and that is a serious issue. According to fire safety experts, older buildings like this need to be regularly checked for fire hazards. But the local government has failed to implement a clear and strict policy for these inspections. Businesses in downtown areas, like the Nechako Bottle Depot, should be required to have updated fire protection systems, yet no action was taken until after the fire. It’s frustrating to see how local authorities continue to allow businesses to operate without the proper safety checks, putting people’s property and lives at risk.
The State Government’s Responsibility to Step In
While the local government is to blame, the state government also plays a role in this problem. The state must set clear guidelines and regulations for fire safety and ensure they are enforced at the municipal level. Yet, it seems like there’s no push from higher levels of government to improve building safety standards in small cities like Prince George. If the state government provided more funding for fire safety programs or created better support for local inspections, tragedies like this could be prevented. The residents of Prince George deserve better protection from their leaders, and it’s time both the local and state governments take responsibility for ensuring the safety of their citizens.
This fire reflects a deeper failure in proactive urban safety planning. While emergency response was fast, prevention was clearly lacking. Neglected safety audits, outdated infrastructure, and weak oversight justify a critical facility vulnerable. Without systemic change, Prince George risks repeating these avoidable disasters. Accountability must replace complacency at every level.
