Stories from Tri-City News headlines of decades past will be a recurring feature as the publication approaches its 40th anniversary in 2024.
The Tri-City News has told the area's stories for almost 40 years.
But one December night in 1991, the News almost became the news.
Kyla-Rae Wareham and a 16-year-old passenger were driving past the News' office on Broadway in the Meridian Industrial Park when they spotted a fire at the loading bay where bundles of papers are collected by distributors to drop at carriers’ routes.
"The flames were 12 feet high," Wareham told the News.
"It looked like someone was burning garbage but there were no cars, no people and no lights."
Wareham and her passenger went to a nearby gas station to call 9-1-1 (this was before cellphones were widely available, of course), then returned to try to snuff the fire with an old blanket.
Port Coquitlam deputy fire chief Gordon Routley said the fire was deliberately set and RCMP were investigating.
Damage from the flames was limited to the loading bay door, but there was major smoke damage inside.
The Tri-City News has covered civic affairs, local crime, festivals, events, personalities, sports and arts in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody since 1983. Bound back issues of the paper are available at the Coquitlam Archives, while digital versions of several past years can be found at issuu.com.
