The fire that destroyed the Evangeline Recreation Centre on Sunday April 11, 2010, has been ruled accidental by the Provincial Fire Marshal’s Office. The cause of the fire is believed to be an electrical fault in the storage room on the second level of the facility in the northwest corner of the building.
In the Provincial Legislature on Tuesday, Attorney General Doug Currie, Minister Responsible for the Office of Public Safety, thanked the volunteer firefighters from Wellington, Alberton, O’Leary, West Point, Tyne Valley, Lennox Island, Miscouche, and Summerside Fire departments. “These dedicated volunteers worked diligently to not only suppress this major fire, their efforts also prevented the fire from spreading to a nearby restaurant, a large storage building, and other buildings on the exhibition grounds,” he said.
Minister Currie also praised the people of Abram-Village and surrounding communities who quickly came together to provide meals for the firefighters, and for their tenacity in the face of adversity. “This was a devastating loss for our One Island Community, but Islanders don’t stay down for long,” he said. “The people of Abram-Village and neighbouring communities have already started talking about ways to move forward. Their spirit and determination in the face of adversity is an inspiration.”