COQUITLAM RCMP believe the fire at Hazel Trembath Elementary School at 1278 Confederation Drive in Port Coquitlam which occurred last October was human-caused.

On Saturday, October 14, 2023, at 3:17 a.m., Coquitlam RCMP frontline officers responded to a structure fire at Hazel Trembath Elementary School. The fire had fully engulfed the school by the time emergency personnel arrived.

“At this time, we believe that the fire was human-caused and are asking those responsible or those individuals who may know who is responsible to contact the Coquitlam RCMP,” said Inspector Darren Carr, Acting Officer-in-Charge of Coquitlam RCMP. “We understand that the loss of the school has had tremendous impact on the entire community and police continue to actively pursue this complex investigation.”

The Coquitlam RCMP General Investigation Section (GIS) continue to investigate and have interviewed or spoken to hundreds of people, utilized various police techniques and brought in experts to assist.

“We want to thank everyone who has already spoken to or provided video to our investigators, but we believe that those responsible still have a story to tell,” said Carr. “We continue to ask anyone who may have information about the school, the days leading up to the fire, or may have been in the area just before the fire was started to contact the Coquitlam RCMP at 604-945-1550.”

Anyone who may have information, no matter how small, is asked to contact Coquitlam RCMP at 604-945-1550 and quote file number 2023-27725.