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Cranbrook, BC (December 22, 2023) – In an effort to ensure the safety of the public, security fencing is being installed today (December 22, 2023) around the former Knight’s Hall building to keep the site secure and prohibit entry to the property, as a building demolition order is in place until the work is completed.

As a result, a portion of King Street is reduced to a single-lane, and the sidewalk in front of the property is closed to the public until further notice. Drivers are asked to please obey any signage in place or simply detour around the area.

Investigators with Fire and Emergency Service and a Structural Engineer determined that the former Knight’s Hall, which because of the fire, has become a structurally unsafe building that poses a risk of collapse danger to the adjacent public sidewalk and roadway.

On December 22, 2023 City Council for the City of Cranbrook adopted a resolution under ss. 72, 73, 74 and 79 of the Community Charter, SBC 2003, c. 26 declaring that the Building is a nuisance, that Council considers that it creates an unsafe condition, and that by December 27, 2023 the owner of the Property must completely demolish the Building so that there are no remaining erect walls (the “remedial action requirement”). The owner has an ability to ask for Council reconsideration. If the owner does not receive reconsideration or complete this work the City will demolish the building. This order to demolish is also required for investigators to be able to safely conduct and complete the fire investigation.

Cranbrook Fire and Emergency Services responded to the structure fire at the Knight’s Hall in the early hours of Tuesday, December 19, 2023. Upon arrival, fire crews discovered fire showing from the second story of the building, where the fire quickly spread throughout. At the time of the fire, there was no heat or power in the building, due to the considerable damage caused by a fire at this location in November of 2022. The building was under an order to be secured from entry since November as it was deemed unsafe for entry at the time of the first fire. The second fire has now made the entire building structurally unsafe and a hazard to the public sidewalk and roadway.