It's been just over two months since Station 99 in Williams Lake burned down, but for Karen Anderson, the pain is still fresh.
"Every time I went by, it just made me cry again," said Anderson who started the new and used treasures business with her brother in October of 2023.
"We worked our butts off for a year and a little bit," Anderson said, describing how, after putting so much effort and money into the business, it was really starting to pick up.
"At the end there it was just going so good, it looked so amazing."
In the morning of March 27, 2025, a fire tore through the building on Mackenzie Avenue which housed Station 99.
"I lost half a million dollars worth of products," Anderson said. "I was so devastated."
It's been a big financial loss, she said, though she thanked her regular customer Kayleen Squalian as well as the owner of Still North Design Co. Courtney Nerbas for their efforts to raise money following the fire.
Now, crews are working on demolishing what remains of the building, and hazardous materials contractors are on site, geared up in white suits and masks, to ensure potentially hazardous items are safely disposed of.
"I'm glad I'm not there for that," Anderson said, explaining she's left town to be with family while the site gets cleared, though she said she's glad it's happening.
"When it's gone it's gonna be easier for me to maybe not be so depressed."
Anderson is hoping the depression which overcomes her when thinking of the business will dissipate over time, and while she wants to open another store of its kind, she's not sure Williams Lake is the place for it.
"I just don't trust Williams Lake anymore, it just seems every other night there's a fire...(and) everybody just keeps seeming to get away with it," Anderson said.
Evan Dean, fire chief of the Williams Lake Fire Department (WLFD), said the total number of calls for service to-date have in fact been lower this year than at this time last year, though there was an uptick in June with 53 calls compared to 38 in 2024. Of the 53 calls in June, 18 were for fires, with the remainder being alarm calls, burning complaints, motor vehicle incidents or random calls. The number of calls for service in March were lower this year than in recent years.
However, the issue of safety in the city's downtown has featured prominently in discussions online and during city council meetings, and the Williams Lake and District Chamber of Commerce has stated it is having an impact on local businesses and tourism. RCMP have said there were a lower number of calls for service between January and April compared to last year, though the number of calls specifically related to disturbances have nearly doubled.
Anderson said there are lots of folks who want the business to reopen, though she's thinking 100 Mile House or Quesnel may be better locations.
"I just don't know if I can - mostly mental wise - if I can put myself through it again."
Leading up to the fire, the hydro metres on the building were stolen several times. When she arrived the morning of the fire, Anderson said the roll-up doors appeared to be pried open.
"There's all kinds of talk in Williams Lake...but there's no concrete proof," Anderson said when asked if she'd received an update on what caused the fire.
The Tribune has reached out to the Williams Lake RCMP and WLFD for an update on the cause of the fire. RCMP have not responded, and Fire Chief Dean could not say.
