By Lyonel Doherty, Times Chronicle
Condolences continue to pour in for the family of a man who died during a structure fire on Island Way Road on Dec. 15.
Oliver RCMP report that an elderly man (identified by the Times Chronicle as Gary Cook) passed away in hospital after being taken from the scene last Thursday morning.
The fire destroyed a residential workshop/garage at approximately 6:45 a.m., leaving Cook with serious burn injuries. He later succumbed to those injuries.
His wife, Tina Cook, told the Times Chronicle that Gary ran to the house to get her and their son out of bed, saying the shop was on fire. She said Gary was badly burned trying to put the flames out.
The shop was heavily engulfed in smoke and flame by the time firefighters arrived, but crews managed to stop the fire from spreading to other nearby vehicles and equipment.
The cause has yet to be determined. Police say they are not investigating any criminal act.
A fundraiser for Cook’s family has begun. In a GoFundMe narrative by Michael James, Cook was described as an “amazing man” who would help anyone who needed it, even when they didn’t ask.
“He was the most genuine (down-to-earth) person I have ever met. He was there if you wanted to talk or even just hold your hand,” James said.
He noted that Gary was in his shop in the early hours of Dec. 15 when a fire broke out.
“His heroic efforts to knock down the flames and put out the fire did not go as he had planned. I believe he was so motivated to save the contents of his shop, which included many horse-drawn carriages that his father owned,” James said.
Cook was an avid collector of anything automotive and loved to talk about car parts.
“In a nutshell, Gary was the nicest, most genuine man I have ever met. The small town of Oliver lost an amazing man,” James said.
To help the family with a donation, visit gofundme.com and search for Gary Cook.
