An Explorer's Guide to Dawson Creek, British Columbia

The Vancouver Sun, Monday, December 14, 1942

    DAWSON CREEK, Dec. 14. - An employee of Miller Construction Co., contractors on Alaska Highway construction, taken into custody for causing a disturbance, was burned to death when fire destroyed the Provincial Police barracks here.

    It was the third serious fire here within three weeks.

    The fire, of unknown origin, broke out after police had stepped out for a few minutes. Army water tanks and hose wagons sprayed water on the flames in an effort to extinguish them.

    After the fire abated, the steel cage of the jail was hauled out and the body removed.

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Edmonton Journal, Monday, December 14, 1942

    DAWSON CREEK, Dec. 14 - Seventh person to die as a result of fires in the Peace River district this winter, Albert Langdon, a prisoner, was burned to death early Sunday when the B.C. provincial police jail was destroyed by fire.

    Cause of the blaze is a mystery as there was no fire in the building. Langdon, an American employed by the Miller Construction company on a northern project, did not have any matches with him, police stated. A few minutes earlier police had inspected the building and found everything in order. The fire spread so rapidly it was impossible to enter the building to attempt a rescue.

    Last week, a fire at Rose Prairie took four lives and a fire at Taylor Flats took two more. A few weeks ago the Dawson Creek post office was gutted and last week a house in town was burned.