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Carihi Fire Recovery: Current Updates & Information

Carihi Secondary: Fire Recovery Update

Last Updated May 19, 2026

The Carihi Secondary fire recovery project is ongoing. The project definition report (PDR) is complete and the district is waiting for provincial funding approval before reconstruction can move ahead. This page provides the latest updates and answers to common questions, and will be updated as new information is confirmed, particularly related to provincial approval, construction timelines, and major project milestones.

Current Status

  • The project definition report (PDR) has been completed and submitted.
  • The district is awaiting funding approval from the provincial Treasury Board.
  • Construction timelines cannot be confirmed until approval is received.

Timing is now dependent on provincial approval processes outside the school district's control.

Timeline of Work

Since the November 2024 fire, the school district has taken continuous action to stabilize the site, restore learning, and advance rebuild planning. Progress on permanent reconstruction now depends on provincial approval. Download a copy of the full timeline.

  • November 21, 2024
    Fire damages A-wing, including the gym, mezzanine, multi-purpose room, teaching kitchen, stage, and lower classrooms. B-wing also sustained smoke and water damage. Thirteen teaching spaces were affected.

    November 23-27, 2024
    District restores core systems (HVAC, electrical, fire alarm, water) and begins structural and safety assessments.

    Late November 2024
    Required air quality testing, hazmat assessment, and structural reviews completed before remediation could begin.

    December 2, 2024
    Carihi students return to class in other parts of the school and with temporary satellite locations at the closed Oyster River Elementary School, extra space at École des Deux Mondes Elementary, and gym classes at Robron Centre. District priority was to get students back to in-person learning as quickly as possible. About 250 students temporarily displaced and bused to alternate sites. School goes to a simplified Day 1 and Day 2 rotation and double block schedule to try to minimize lost instructional time because of travel.

    December 11, 2024
    Campbell River Fire Department releases their investigation findings. Cause of the fire determined to be accidental spontaneous combustion and not the result of arson or other suspicious activity. The fire originated in the area between the laundry room and the exit next to a shelving unit where three or four milk crates were stacked with clothing for students. Residual cooking oil or grease remained embedded in the fabric after laundering and retained enough temperature from the heat from the dryer to initiate oxidation of the oil residues when the fabrics were piled together. The fire alarms functioned correctly; however, no sprinklers were present in A-wing. This was in compliance with all safety regulations at the time A-wing was built and continued to meet legal requirements.

    December 2024
    Asbestos contamination confirmed, A-wing determined unsafe, and B-wing remediation begins.

  • January - February 2025
    Temporary roof installed on gym to prevent further damage. Structural stabilization work begins, including shear wall construction. Architect and consultants engaged to plan repairs and rebuild options.

    March 2025
    A-wing demolition begins and is completed. Demolition permits submitted and approved. Four portable classrooms ordered from Chaparral Industries.

    March 12, 2025
    The Ministry of Infrastructure advised that they would release initial project funding for the claim but that the school district would need to submit a formal project definition report (PDR) for full funding approval from the Treasury Board.

  • April 1, 2025
    Students and teachers return to B-wing and lower classrooms below the gym.

    April 2025
    Temporary power, electrical systems, and site infrastructure restored.

    April 24, 2025
    First draft of the project definition report (PDR) completed and submitted.

    Late April - May 2025
    Extensive geotechnical investigations completed. Supports structural engineering decision for rebuild of gym wall and A-wing relocation.

    June 25, 2025
    Ministry of Infrastructure requests additional technical details and cost estimates for PDR.

  • July 2025
    Multiple revised PDR submissions completed in July to satisfy Ministry of Infrastructure requests.

    August 6, 2025
    Chaparral Industries informs the district that construction of the four new portables had not started despite earlier timelines and communication. Delivery moved from September 1, 2025 to late November 2025.

    August 12, 2025
    Senior leadership team, Carihi administration walk through east side of gym, stage and lower classrooms for the first time since the fire.

    August 15, 2025
    Ministry of Infrastructure requests additional comments for pre-fabrication construction in the PDR.

    August 20, 2025
    Camp kitchen trailer delivered.

    August 25, 2025
    Ministry of Infrastructure capital planning officers come to visit the site to discuss PDR requirements and options. 

    September 6, 2025
    2 portables moved from other district schools to Carihi Secondary and ramp/stair construction begins, as does electrical and mechanical work.

    September 10, 2025
    Ministry of Infrastructure directs district to create a new project in capital planning system for the Carihi replacement/renovation work.

    September 22, 2025
    Ministry of Infrastructure requires architect to review Carihi gym replacement options in PDR.

  • October 28, 2025
    Occupancy permit for SD72 owned portables received from the City of Campbell River.

    November 7, 2025
    Ministry of Infrastructure requires major PDR revisions, including expanded options and additional analysis.

    November 15-16, 2025
    The four new portables are delivered to Carihi Secondary from Chaparral Industries.

    November - December 2025
    Gym structure stabilized and made weather-tight.

    December 2025
    Ministry of Infrastructure requires further information and revisions to PDR including detailed costing, risk analysis and procurement analysis. 

    December 19, 2025
    District sends the Ministry of Infrastructure capital planning officers what the district is led to believe is the “final” PDR recommending A-wing rebuild and gym repair as the district’s preferred option. Further rebuild planning work must pause pending approval and direction from the Province.

  • January - March 9, 2026
    District staff work through multiple additional revisions to the PDR at the Ministry of Infrastructure’s request, including: equipment inventories (of thousands of items), detailed costing and escalation calculations, and space allocation adjustments.

    March 9, 2026
    Ministry of Infrastructure informs the district that the PDR was complete.

    March 13, 2026
    District receives requests for additional revisions to the PDR from the Ministry of Infrastructure.

    April 17, 2026
    Superintendent Geoff Manning sends a letter to Minister of Infrastructure Bowinn Ma about the inefficiencies in the PDR process and the negative impact that the delay for funding approval of the restoration to Carihi Secondary is having on students.

    April 20, 2026
    Ministry of Infrastructure capital planning officers confirm they need no further revisions to the PDR.

    April 29, 2026
    Carihi PAC launches advocacy website www.rebuildcarihigym.com and online petition.

    May 5, 2026
    Carihi PAC attend the SD72 public board meeting shares that the online petition had already garnered over 730 signatures.

    May 6, 2026
    Carihi PAC vice-president Sophia Sauter gives an interview with CBC Radio Victoria.

    May 7, 2026
    The Board of Education finalize and send a letter to Minister of Infrastructure Bowinn Ma expressing their frustration with the delay in funding approval for the restoration of Carihi Secondary. The letter was also copied to Minister of Education and Child Care Lisa Beare, North Island MLA Anna Kindy, Infrastructure Critic MLA Misty Van Popta, Campbell River Mayor Kermit Dahl and Council, and the Carihi Parent Advisory Council. It was also posted publicly on the school district website and social media and sent to local media outlets.

    May 15, 2026
    Carihi band students on an annual trip to Victoria request and secure a meeting with the Minister of Infrastructure's office to deliver the signed petition. Students are also interviewed by Chek News (see coverage here: Carihi students take appeal for school repairs to Victoria nearly 18 months after fire).

  • The project definition report (PDR) is complete. District is awaiting provincial funding approval through the Treasury Board. Construction start date and timeline cannot be finalized until approval is received.


Frequently Asked Questions

This FAQ focuses on current information. Earlier questions related to the immediate response have been removed as the project has moved into the planning and approval phase.

  • Most students are back attending classes at Carihi Secondary, including in portable classrooms on the school grounds. PE programs continue to share the gym at Robron Centre and the musical theatre program has continued with support from the Tidemark Theatre, allowing students to put their production of Something Rotten on this year on the Tidemark's stage. In the fall, the culinary arts program is expected to move to a split model, with cold preparation in a classroom under the supervision of a responsible adult sous chef and hot preparation in the camp kitchen once it is retrofitted to accommodate the teaching requirements.

  • Yes. The school was cleared for re-occupancy following required safety assessments, including air quality testing. Fire-affected areas have either been repaired, demolished, or remain sealed off and are not accessible.

  • The fire damaged A-wing, including the gym and several learning spaces. Parts of B-wing were also affected by smoke and water and required remediation.

  • The project definition report (PDR), which outlines the proposed rebuild and costs, has been completed and submitted to the Province. The district is waiting for funding approval before reconstruction can move forward.

  • Major capital projects require approval and funding from the Province. The district has completed its planning work and submitted required documentation. Timing now depends on provincial review and decision-making processes.

  • Construction timelines cannot be confirmed until provincial funding approval is received. Once approval is in place, timelines will be shared.

  • The district’s plan recommends rebuilding A-wing and repairing the gym to restore full school functionality. Final scope is subject to provincial approval.

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