A Look Back at the Westholme Fire

Westholme Church Goes Up In Flames 1978

All Saints Anglican Church, Westholme, was destroyed by fire in the early hours of Saturday morning. Chemainus Volunteer Fire Department answered a call at 12.05am and on arriving found the 100-year-old church totally involved with flames shooting out of the roof and windows.

Almost immediately the steeple and bell toppled to the ground at the back of the building.

Firemen were able to rescue the organ, pulpit and lectern before the building became completely gutted.

Three pumpers, a rescue truck, and 27 men answered the call plus a tank truck from the Crofton Fire Department.

The fire appeared to have started in the northwest corner of the church. It is not yet known how it started, but arson is suspected. The RCMP and fire marshal are investigating.

This is the second Chemainus church in a week to have a fire.

Wednesday morning Nursery School assistant, Barbara Goldsmith discovered a badly charred washroom door in the basement of the Baptist Church and on Sunday morning the remains of another fire was discovered in a Sunday school room in the back of the church.

Entry had been gained by manipulating the lock on the door. Vandals had spread materials used for finger-painting over the floor, generally messing things up. A week earlier, vandals entered the Anglican Church hall and wrecked havoc among the costumes being used in the Chemainus Auxiliary concert, spraying them with foam from a fire extinguisher. This story is from the Cowichan Newsleader used with permission. 1978