The North Valley Gymnastics building went up in flames this morning, Oct. 31, 2021.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK/Chris Schick
October 31, 2021 - 12:16 PM
The North Okanagan gymnastics community is mourning the loss of a non-profit’s facility after it was destroyed by fire this morning.
Residents originally reported the North Valley Gymnastics building, located on 31 Street in Vernon, was on fire, Oct. 31. Plumes of smoke were seen from across the city and firefighters responded to the blaze shortly after 7 a.m.
READ MORE: Firefighters battling flames at Vernon gymnastics club
“The walls have fallen… you can tell it was a hot fire and there won’t be anything left,” said Naomi Rokus, head coach and manager of the North Valley Gymnastics Society.
The gymnastics academy has served roughly 400 members from across the North Okanagan during the pandemic.
“Prior to COVID, we were serving 600 plus kids per week,” she said.
They have insurance for the building and content insurance but Rokus is concerned about the price of equipment rising due to COVID-19 and supply chain issues that have put delays on orders around the world.
“That’s the hardest part. I coach kids that are there hours and hours every week, like 12 hours a week… and there are the kids that are there for an hour a week and it’s their best hour every week, they look forward to it. From COVID to this, it’s really crappy, it’s devastating, it’s heartbreaking,” Rokus said.
The society was incorporated in 1992 and has operated out of the building since 2018 after purchasing it in 2017, she said.
The Okanagan gymnastics community has been supportive, with clubs reaching out from Kelowna and offering to have kids practice at Kelowna facilities.
The recreational programs may have to be conducted out of Kelowna and the competitive members may also have to travel three to four days a week to Kelowna, she said.
The society's programs are offered for toddler-aged children with their parents to 15 to 17-year-olds, Rokus said. Adult programs also existed prior to the pandemic.
"We will rebuild and hopefully better," she said.
The fire department has not announced a cause of the fire but Rokus was told by the fire chief that crews will likely be on scene for most of the day. The department has asked residents to avoid the area.
The fire department has a ladder truck, two engines and approximately 20 firefighters responding to the fire.
The Vernon North Okanagan RCMP, B.C. Ambulance Service, B.C. Hydro and FortisB.C. are also on scene.
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