DAWSON CREEK, BC -- A Dawson Creek couple who lost their home in a fire have just three weeks to tear down the property.
The 8th Street home of Dean and Chelsey Lamont was gutted by a fire in late July. Police are treating the blaze as arson.
The city has given the couple until September 16th to demolish the building. The house has been condemned and the city says it poses a significant health and safety risk.
The Lamonts asked council for a thirty-day extension of the demolition deadline. Since they were uninsured, they will have to pay out of pocket to tear down their home.
However, in a meeting today, council rejected their request. Mayor Dale Bumstead said council was concerned that the extra time would not incentivize the couple to take action.
If the demolition deadline passes, the City will take charge of demolishing the building, and add the expense to the owners’ property taxes. If those taxes remain unpaid, the city will take possession of the property.
“It’s really really sad when people find themselves in that situation when they don’t have the capacity to do this - their home has been destroyed, all their belongings have been destroyed,” said Mayor Bumstead. “And this is why we all buy insurance, to make sure we don’t end up in this situation.”
