The 1934 Fire at the Shawnigan Lake Lumber Mill

(from THE SHAWNIGAN LAKE LUMBER COMPANY - 1889 - 1943

By Robert Brian Griffin, B.A., University of Victoria, 1973

Operations were very uncertain during the early 1930's because of the depression

and completely ceased with the destruction of the sawmill by fire in 1934.

On August 10th, 1934, the sawmill and other facilities were totally destroyed by fire.  This event made front page news, not only in the Cowichan Leader, but also in the Victoria Daily Times which announced in glaring headlines, "FIRE WRECKS SHAWNIGAN

MILL."   

The most sensational aspect of the affair was that the mill was burned as a result of incendiarism, and not by accidental fire. This fire had not been the first attempt to destroy the mill; on July 7, two men fled the property when spotted by the night watchman, Harry

Warwick, leaving behind dynamite and coal oil. 

The fire of August 10^th originated behind the planing shed and was noticed by the night watchman about 2:50 a.m.  He gave the alarm and tied the mill whistle down.  By 7:00 a.m.. all was in ruins; the fire-fighting equipment so hopefully installed had not been effective. 

The sawmill, six acres of platforms, machines, and lumber, along with a small summer cottage and the Japanese settlement at the north end of the mill were lost.  Fortunately, the wind had not been blowing or many other buildings would have been burned.  During the height of the fire an E. & N. locomotive attempted to pass the sawmill, but was driven back.  The sight of the roaring inferno was spectacular:

Flames rose at least 100 feet in the air, and a shower of

burning debris went straight up higher, then spread like a

mushroom in every direction.  The lake was like a brilliantly

lit crystal bowl.  The dark hour before the dawn was light as

day.  It was possible to read newsprint by the light of the

flames at the Forrest Inn on the opposite shore. 

An official enquiry was at once initiated to investigate and to report on the circumstances

surrounding the fire.  The hearings began on October 3, 1934.  The evidence produced indicated that an employee of the Western Fuel Company, was responsible for setting the fire.  The dynamite, which had been found in July, had been stamped W.F.Co.  Caps, cotton gloves, and fuse were also found near the mill site.  Mr. Richards had been seen in a rented car near the mill site, a fact he denied.

While no doubt existed that the fire had been set, it was decided that the evidence was not strong enough to lay charges.

The sawmill was rebuilt in 1936 and went into production September of that year.