VALUE LODGE FIRE QUESTIONS

Value Lodge Website Picture

VOICE OF NANAIMO – PUBLIC QUESTIONS

🚨 VALUE LODGE FIRE: ALARMS & LIFE SAFETY

A Boxing Day fire at Nanaimo’s Value Lodge reportedly displaced ~40 people, including 35 longer-term residents.
BC Emergency Health Services says 6 ambulances responded and 7 people were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation.
Online listings commonly describe the property as 55 rooms.

✅ THE QUESTIONS (FACTS, NOT SPECULATION):

Did the building have a building-wide fire alarm system (panel/pull stations/horns & strobes) — YES/NO?
If yes, did it activate that morning? What exactly triggered it?
Was the system monitored (automatic dispatch), or was notification by phone?
Were smoke alarms interconnected (one alarm sounds throughout), or stand-alone?
Were alarms hardwired or battery (or mixed)?
Were there audible alarms that could wake sleeping occupants across the building?
Were there visual strobes in common areas?
Was the building sprinklered (full/partial/none)? If yes, did sprinklers activate?
What was the date of the last fire inspection and was it in compliance at that time (yes/no)?
How often are motels/hotels like this inspected in Nanaimo, and what drives inspection frequency?

When dozens of people are living full-time in one building, early warning can’t be optional.
📩 Nanaimo Fire Rescue / City of Nanaimo: Please provide clear written answers.

This is not about blame or speculation while the cause is under investigation. It’s about basic life-safety facts the public deserves to know—especially when a property is commonly described online as a 55-room motel and dozens of people were living there long-term.

So here are the questions Nanaimo Fire Rescue and the City should answer plainly:

What alarm systems were installed?
What actually activated?
Was it monitored?
Were alarms interconnected?
Were there sprinklers?
When was the last inspection—and was the building compliant at that time?

If you were displaced and want to share your experience (privately), email: Voice of Nanaimo at voiceofnanaimo@mail.com.

VOICE of NANAIMO