Fire damages Jack Goddard Memorial Arena as crews work to save ice
Grand Forks and Christina Lake firefighters are being credited with preventing more serious damage to the community arena and potentially saving the upcoming hockey season.
The Jack Goddard Memorial Arena in Grand Forks. The facility sustained fire and smoke damage early Wednesday as crews worked to protect the building and preserve the upcoming hockey season. (Arena pictured here in a file photo)
A fire at the Jack Goddard Memorial Arena in Grand Forks early Wednesday damaged the building and left significant smoke damage inside as the arena prepared for the 2026-27 ice season.
Grand Forks Fire Rescue and Christina Lake Fire/Rescue responded to the fire, with the first crews on scene quickly knocking down the flames, according to an update from Grand Forks & District Recreation.
“On behalf of our entire team, we want to thank the Grand Forks and Christina Lake fire crews for their incredible response,” RDKB Facilities and Recreation Manager Paul Keys said in the update. “They basically saved our hockey season. Our priority now is assessing the damage and doing everything we can to save the ice.”
The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary said damage is still being assessed and there is significant smoke damage inside the building. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The recreation office at the arena has been temporarily closed while officials look at relocating staff to the RDKB administrative office in Grand Forks.
Recreation officials said their immediate priority is preserving the ice and getting the arena ready for the coming season.
The first skating event scheduled at the arena is also being reassessed and could be rescheduled depending on the condition of the facility.
The Jack Goddard Memorial Arena is home to the Grand Forks Border Bruins, Grand Forks Minor Hockey and local recreational hockey programs. The facility normally operates from late August through March and also hosts public skating and other community programming.
The fire comes as the RDKB is already planning substantial work at the aging arena.
The district’s 2026 Grand Forks and Area D Recreation Master Plan identifies an estimated $2.58 million in arena facility upgrades over the coming years, including work on the roofing, rink slab, electrical wiring and ice-making system.
The plan also recommends an immediate $50,000 feasibility study examining the future replacement of the Jack Goddard Memorial Arena.
The cause of Wednesday’s fire remains under investigation, and the RDKB has not linked the fire to any of the upgrades identified in the recreation master plan.
Grand Forks & District Recreation said further updates will be shared once officials have confirmed information about the damage and the arena’s status.
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