Building evacuated after snow causes damage at Big White

Photo: Gary Leck

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Photo: Gary Leck Photo: Gary Leck Photo: Gary Leck Photo: Gary Leck Photo: Gary Leck

A roof avalanche has forced 36 Big White resort staff to look for other accommodations.

Big White fire chief Chris Cormack says the incident happened just before 5 p.m. on Monday and appears to have been the result of rooftop snow buildup that let go and came crashing into the adjacent Snowpines building.

The snow hit the building with enough force to smash through the wall, sending snow into a bedroom.

Gary Leck lives in the building and says he's lucky he was out at the time of the slide, "I was on the bed only five minutes before this happened!"

Cormack says firefighters responded because of concerns over the structural integrity of the building after it was hit by the snow.

"The bearing wall had certainly been compromised. We worked with the Canadian Red Cross, the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary and Big White Ski Resort to house the people who lived in the residence," says Cormack.

Senior vice president of Big White Ski Resort Ltd., Michael J. Ballingall says 36 people were living at the residence. Twenty-four of them were given three-day accommodation and food vouchers after it was determined the structure was unsafe.

"This happens every year. Roofs that have metal covers tend to shed their snow cover, it's dangerous," says Ballingall, explaining the building is privately-owned but is rented out by Big White staff.

A structural engineer and insurance company are supposed to inspect the building Tuesday afternoon.

"We're waiting on engineers to assess the damage and decide whether it's safe for us to move back," says Leck.

Ballingall says of the 36 people who live in the damaged residence, 24 moved into on-mountain accommodations while a dozen others made their own arrangements.

For now, the caution tape at the entrance of the residence will remain up until a full structural assessment can be completed.

Ballingall also wanted to warn other Big White residents to avoid walking under rooftop overhangs, especially if there is significant snow buildup on the roof.