A blast in downtown Prince George, British Columbia, rocked the area, injuring three people and leveling a former restaurant nearly six months ago. Since then, the rubble left from the explosion and fire remains piled on the site. Dan McLaren, president of Commonwealth Campus Corporation, the property owner, has been unable to clean up the site due to delays in the insurer’s claims process. McLaren claims that Lloyd’s of London, the insurer, has not honored the claim and has not provided a reason for the delay.
According to McLaren, the insurer has not requested any additional information, leaving the property cleanup in limbo. The B.C. Insurance Act requires the insurer to pay a claim within 60 days after the proof of loss is completed and delivered. Despite this, McLaren has been left with unanswered questions from the insurer’s lawyer regarding the delay in the claims process.
In an unfortunate turn of events, the blast that injured three people was caused by thieves who severed a natural gas line while attempting to steal copper pipes from the vacant building. The blast seriously injured city worker Victoria Mcgivern, and also caused damage to neighboring buildings including the UNBC Wood Innovation and Design Centre. The insurer commissioned a private investigator to uncover the details of the explosion, resulting in a report that found no outstanding issues with the claim.
The city of Prince George has confirmed an active property maintenance file on the site, with an order for the cleanup to start by March 1. McLaren has the necessary work permit from the city to proceed with the cleanup, but is awaiting approval from the insurance company. Until then, he is stuck paying property taxes and insurance premiums for the damaged building, as well as maintaining a security patrol.
The cost of the cleanup is estimated to be between $144,000 and $190,000. McLaren lamented the delays caused by both criminal activities and an uncooperative insurance company. The property, which has been listed for sale for six years, has been unable to find a tenant and has become a point of frustration for both the owner and the city.