Candle causes apartment fire

An unattended candle next to anything flammable is a recipe for disaster. Late Friday night, it caused a $75,000 fire in a second-floor apartment in the 2100 block of Upland Street, igniting a nearby mattress, said Prince George Fire rescue assistant chief Denis Poulin. Twenty firefighters from four halls responded to the blaze when smoke was seen coming out of the apartment window at about 11 p.m. Friday. The building was evacuated by the time crews arrived and there were no injuries. The lone occupant of the apartment was home when the fire began. SMITHERS — More than 200 people gathered in a northern British Columbia community to show their support for the family of a teen who vanished in late August. Smithers RCMP have said 18-yearold Jessica Patrick, also known as Jessica Balczer, was last seen at a Smithers motel on Aug. 31 and was reported missing three days later.

Many of those attending Sunday’s vigil wore red as a tribute to Patrick and to honour other missing and murdered Indigenous women.

Patrick is a mother and a member of the Lake Babine First Nation.

The vigil was held just hours after Smithers RCMP, the North District Major Crime Unit and the BC Coroners Service confirmed they are investigating the discovery of human remains near Smithers. RCMP have not released any other details or officially identified the remains. COQUITLAM — A recreation centre in Coquitlam was temporarily closed Monday due to a “minor” ammonia leak.

City spokeswoman Kathleen Vincent says staff sprang into action after an early alarm alerted them to the leak at the Poirier Sport & Leisure Complex.

She says the cause under is investigation but most likely stemmed from a mechanical failure. In a social media post, the City of Coquitlam says no one was injured in the incident. It says all protocols were followed and the building was evacuated while fire rescue and HAZMAT crews responded to the leak.