by Kyle Wells [email protected] Vandals have once again struck at A Branch cabin and now Powell River RCMP is involved in trying to put an end to the damage.
Over Halloween weekend a group arrived at the cabin while another group was preparing to spend the night there. The newly arrived group came to party and proceeded to fire shotguns at fire extinguishers, set off fireworks in the cabin and generally wreak havoc.
A Branch cabin is maintained by volunteers of Knuckleheads Winter Recreation Association. Andy Evans, association director, said the extent of the damage along with the ongoing nature of the issue has forced them to involve the RCMP. Police officers are now looking for suspects in the vandalism and are planning to make visits to the cabin to deter future problems.
“It’s a very small group, this isn’t everybody,” said Evans. “But a large group of people is getting very upset about it.”
The RCMP said it has no suspects yet but is asking the public to come forward with any information they might have, such as a parent who may know their son or daughter went to the cabin over that weekend.
“They figure they can do whatever they want up there and they seem to forget that there’s other people in this town and out of town that use this cabin,” said Evans. “It’s not their cabin, it’s for everybody to use in a responsible fashion.”
In the meantime, the association members will have to go to the cabin to clean up the damage and replace items, such as the fire extinguishers, ruined by the users. It’s a job the directors say they are getting tired of doing.
There is now increased haste on the part of the association volunteers to install the gate they have planned to cut off access to the road leading to the cabin. They now hope to have it installed before the snow comes so that it is in place for next summer. Directors had hoped to not have to install a gate but this and other incidents have led them to believe it is a necessity.
Anyone with any information on the vandalism is asked to call Powell River RCMP at 604.485.6255 or CrimeStoppers at 1.800.222.8477 (TIPS).
